Using the Goals Manager to Stay on Track

5 min read

Small Steps Win

The Goals Manager isn't about New Year's resolutions. It's about turning vague intentions into concrete, completable actions.

Why This Matters

Your brain can generate 100 ideas, but struggle with the first concrete step. That's not laziness. That's a gap between vision and execution. The Goals Manager bridges that gap.

How to Set Up a Goal

Step 1: Name the goal (be specific) Bad: "Get healthier" or "Be better at leadership" Good: "Run 3 times a week for 4 weeks" or "Have weekly 1:1s with my team" Specific goals are completable goals

Step 2: Pick a timeframe (2-4 weeks is ideal) Long enough to make progress Short enough to see the finish line You can always create another goal after

Step 3: Break it into 3-5 small steps Each step should take 15-30 minutes Not "become a better communicator" But "write down three things I appreciate about my partner and tell them each one"

A Real Example

Goal: "Have a real feedback conversation with one team member"

Step 1: Read the feedback framework I've been using (15 min) Step 2: Choose which team member and which behavior to address (10 min) Step 3: Draft what I want to say (20 min) Step 4: Have the conversation (30 min) Step 5: Debrief with a coach session (15 min)

In Each Coaching Session

Ask your coach: "Where should I focus next on my goal?"

The coach helps you decide which step to tackle, how to approach it, and what might trip you up. Suddenly the abstract goal becomes a concrete conversation.

Logging Progress

Mark steps complete as you finish them Add a quick reflection: What surprised you? What did you learn? This is your proof. You're building momentum with each completed step.

If You Miss a Step

You're not failing. You're learning. Ask the coach: "What got in the way? How do we adjust?"

Goals aren't punishments. They're tracks to run on.

A Humble Truth

Small wins > abandoned big goals. Every single time. Pick a goal that scares you a little (not a lot), break it into steps you can actually do, and watch what happens.