A new study by top-rated provider of goal-setting training, leadership training, employee surveys and e-learning, Leadership IQ, describes how men and women approach and achieve goals in very different ways. the findings are very thought provoking, and very likely to spark some lively discussion and debate from both men and women. At this time of year, when New Year's Resolutions are in the air, the study demonstrated why the failure rate of those resolutions is so high for women and men.
Some of the key findings include how men and women approach and achieve goals differently, including strong variations in their emotional connection, visualization, urgency and levels of challenge. For example, it is found that men more actively visualize goals, though women tend to care more about their goals, and set more ambitious ones than men, but are more likely to procrastinate.
According to the ground breaking international study based on a survey of 4,690 men and women:
1. Women care about their goals more than men
Because women are more emotionally connected to their goals than men, they’re more likely to stick to their goals when the going gets tough.
2. Men visualize their goals better than women
Like the visualization used by elite athletes, men more clearly picture their goals than women. This gives them greater direction and focus.
3. Women are more likely to procrastinate than men
Women feel less urgency to achieve their goals than men. This results in procrastination, and potentially, goal failure.
4. Women set tougher goals than men
Women are more likely to leave their comfort zones and set challenging (and even scary) goals. This leads to both greater achievement and fulfillment.
The study points to some potential solutions to the gender based differences in goal approach and achievement:
Women:
• Women need to spend more time visualizing and picturing their goals. This could mean pictures, drawings, vision boards, etc., but whatever the form, women need to tap into the focus and direction that men get from more clearly picturing their goals.
• Women need to attach a greater sense of urgency to their goals, avoiding procrastination by setting more urgent deadlines, immediate rewards, limiting choices, etc.
• Women need to accomplish at least one thing each day that pushes them closer to their goals. By asking “What must I have accomplished today in order to keep on track to achieve my goals,” women can achieve higher levels of focus and urgency.
Men:
• Men need to develop more emotional attachment to their goals. Pursuing a goal without a deep emotional commitment can lead to wavering. Whether the commitment is intrinsic, extrinsic or personal, men must answer “why do I really care about achieving this goal?”
• Men need to set more difficult goals. Men need to increase the difficulty of their goals by asking themselves questions like ‘what will I have to learn to achieve this goal?’ ‘How will I grow as a person as a result of this goal?’ ‘What new skills will I have acquired by virtue of pursuing this?’ If men find that their goals aren’t stretching their minds (and helping them leave their comfort zone), they should increase their goals' difficulty by 20%.
• Men need to generate more social accountability for their goals. This doesn’t mean that men have to tweet or Facebook post about their goals, but should identify somebody in their lives who will engage and help them stay on track toward their goals each day. This helps keep men emotionally connected to their goals and ensures they keep them appropriately difficult.
The study is certain to generate some serious discussion, and perhaps even generate some controversy. The hope of course is that both men and women will enhance their goal setting, approach to goals, and success rate in goal achievement as a result.
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Survey Process:
During September-October, 2010, Leadership IQ surveyed 4,690 individuals about their goals (2,506 women and 2,184 men responded). Study participants came from a range of countries with the majority coming from the United States and Canada.
Geographic Participation:
United States 88. 52%
Canada 5.68%
Europe 1.54%
Asia 1.39%
Other (including Australia, Africa, South America) 2.87%
