It’s 2010, the start of a new year as well as a new decade. Many people are setting goals. Some people are not.

Does goal-setting really matter? I think it does matter, especially in a team or group of people involved in a project. How else would the group know where it is going? But again, non-goal-setters may ask, “Is it necessary for a group to know where it is going?” Again, I think it is necessary and does matter.

Anyway, in the context of goal setting, there seems to be two types of goal setters: Evolutionary Goal-Setters (EGS) and Revolutionary Goal-Setters (RGS). Evolutionary Goal-Setters are analytical and mainly use the left side of their brain. They formulate goals based on historical evidence and trend analysis. Since goals are based on extrapolation of the past or present, the goals and outcomes of Evolutionary Goal-Setters are predictable. Nevertheless, resources for achieving evolutionary goals are mostly in place. Consequently, evolutionary goals are more likely to be achieved. With evolutionary goal-setting, failure is usually not considered an option. A downside of evolutionary outcomes is lack of differentiation and for businesses, their products and services may be swimming in the ‘Red Ocean’ which is defined by bloody competition and perennial price wars.

Revolutionary Goal-Setters formulate goals based on their intuition and vision. To Revolutionary Goal-Setters, the present or the past does not matter. The past and the present are simply irrelevant. Revolutionary Goal-Setters believe that they can ‘paint’ and create a radically different future and ecosystem. They pursue their vision with vigor and passion.

Right brain thinking is the preferred cognitive style of Revolutionary Goal-Setters. RGS favor high risk-high reward projects. They are passionate about their vision and apparently impossible goals. In extreme cases, Revolutionary Goal-Setters may be oblivious of reality and living in a world of their own imagination and construction. In short, they may be day dreamers (to everyone except themselves). Revolutionary Goal-Setters often face the problem of resource constraints; critical resources may not be currently available so that there is serious risk of their goal not being achieved. However, when Revolutionary Goal-Setters succeed, their results, products, and services are memorable and often awe inspiring.

Revolutionary Goal-Setters in business often create ‘Blue Oceans’ that redefine market spaces, radically differentiate themselves from the competition, and attract a larger pool of consumers and previous non-consumers. With Revolutionary Goal-Setters, failure is surely an option (or a learning experience).

George Bernard Shaw, a famous Irish playwright, once said, “The reasonable man adapts himself to the world: the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.” He may well have been talking about Evolutionary and Revolutionary Goal-Setters. And what a way to summarize our predisposition towards the setting of goals!

So, the big question is: Are you an Evolutionary Goal-Setter or a Revolutionary Goal-Setter? In other words, do you gravitate towards Evolutionary Goal-Setting or Revolutionary Goal-Setting?

What are your favorite examples of evolutionary and revolutionary goal-setting?

Best,
Rod.