Goal Selection is a function of past experience

In the simplest term, success means the goal is attained and failure means the goal is missed. Success or failure, whatever the end outcome is, we become more experienced. This experience is the experience of a journey that we start towards the goal. This is also the experience of the success or failure of the process.

The process we follow to attain the goal develops the journey.  Like any other journey, this journey is also an experience for us. The experience can be appreciable, average, or terrible.

Normally, when the goal is attained, we feel proud and happy. We feel great about the experience. We find the hardships in the journey towards the goal are the tests of our patience and dedication.

On the other hand, when we fail to attain the goal, we feel sad. We try to find the faults in the process and the journey. Even if the journey was mostly good, it is not cherishing. Failure sucks the spice out of life. However, not everyone thinks in this way.

• When the goal is attained, we either repeat it or set a higher goal

• When we fail to attain the goal, we
  • set the same goal to start all over again or
  • set a lower target or
  • find a substitute goal or
  • abandon the venture

If the team achieves the weekly sales target, the manager may set the same target for the next week or uplift it.

If the team fails to achieve the weekly sales target, the manager may set the same target after pointing out the issues to the team and warning or counseling some team members who had defaulted the most.

If the team fails to achieve the weekly targets repetitively, the manager may lower the target or design some special incentives for the special achievements. If the team still fails, the manager would appraise the process and ask the team members to change the approach. Even if that doesn’t work, the manager would find who are those team members failing the team. The manager then decides the next step for necessary adjustments. That may be training for the failing members, shifting them to other jobs, or termination.  

It also happens in other departments as well like in manufacturing units. From fixing day-to-day tasks to monthly and yearly targets, the decision-makers mostly depend on experience.

Goal selection is a function of past experience.