Strategic Planning: Outcomes & Goals

Photo by Kamil Pietrzak on Unsplash

🎯 Outcomes ≠ Goals: It’s strategic planning season. 😬

Every year, I see thoughtful leaders get stuck in the same frustrating loop:

They set ambitious “goals”... but they don't hit them.

Not because they’re not capable, but because they’re aiming at the wrong thing.

Here’s the distinction that’s been both liberating and empowering for me and my clients:

🎯 Outcomes ≠ Goals

✅ Outcomes are what you aim for, but can’t fully control.

 – Revenue

 – Client satisfaction

 – Adoption

 – Signups

✅ Goals are what you can control, and they should align with driving your outcomes.

 – Reach out to 5 key stakeholders each month

 – Complete customer journey map by Q1

 – Provide strategic context (“the why”) at every team meeting

 – Integrate leadership development into 1:1s

This subtle shift changes everything.

You stop trying to control what’s out of your hands and start focusing on what’s fully within your reach.

You move from frustration to focus.

From reactive to strategic.

From “trying harder” to leading smarter.

How are you defining your Goals and Outcomes for the next year?

🎯 Here's to landing where you're aiming!