Most of us were taught to measure success by ticking off boxes on a to-do list or hitting predetermined milestones. It’s easy to fall into the trap of what is called the Performance Mindset. We’re ...

If you’re ready to level up your career or personal life in 2025 but seem to just keep failing at all your goals, there could be a simple solution. A direct, simple method for planning your endeavors ...

Why do some employees do better than others? According to goal-setting theory, one reason is that they have better, clearer goals. These goals guide their behavior towards better workplace output.

Have you ever set a New Year’s resolution, such as, “I want to be more active,” or “I want to spend less time on my phone,” yet you struggle to follow through? One reason for the struggle could be ...

If you’ve heard any consultant talk about goal-setting techniques, you’ve heard about the SMART goal framework, but the framework has its limitations. In 1981, George T. Doran, a consultant and former ...

Lindsey Ellefson is Lifehacker’s Features Editor. She currently covers study and productivity hacks, as well as household and digital decluttering, and oversees the freelancers on the sex and ...

Lindsey Ellefson is Lifehacker’s Features Editor. She currently covers study and productivity hacks, as well as household and digital decluttering, and oversees the freelancers on the sex and ...

The Fast Company Executive Board is a private, fee-based network of influential leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. BY Geri Johnson January 1 ...

Specifically, SMART can limit the scope for freedom, risk-taking, and creativity. At the very least, it can be said that SMART criteria serve to slow innovative moves, rather than encourage them: ...