Systems > Goals: How to Build Habits That Deliver Results
A practical guide for leaders tired of setting goals that go nowhere
In this issue:
Part 1: Understanding ‘Systems > Goals’
What are Systems and Goals?
Why Systems Beat Goals Every Time
Part 2: Applying the Systems > Goals Framework
The 4-Step Habit Builder
Real-Life Leadership Scenarios
The Systems Builder Worksheet
Part 3: Going From Here
Common Pitfalls (and How to Avoid Them)
Recommended Resources
Final Thoughts
✨
Think back to the last time you set a big goal for yourself, your team, or your organization.
Maybe it was:
Hitting a revenue number
Launching a product on time
Improving employee engagement by a few points on your next survey
Do you remember what happened after you set the goal?
If you're like most leaders, not much. The goal was written down, discussed in a meeting, and maybe even turned into an OKR.
But soon after, things returned to business as usual, which typically looks like this:
Emails are piling up, and meetings are consuming your day
The team is burning out, yet not moving anywhere close to the goal
Priorities are shifting, and the team is confused about where they’re headed
So, in the end, you were left with a nice-looking goal, but not much progress.
I’ve been there, too. Early in my leadership career, I thought setting a goal was enough. I assumed that if I could just communicate the vision clearly, people would rally and we would magically achieve the goal! But more often than not, the opposite happened - the team felt pressure to achieve the outcome, but had no repeatable way to get there. That created stress, confusion, and a few too many late nights.
Eventually, I learned that goals don’t deliver results. Habits do.
This post is inspired by this idea coined by one of my favorite authors, James Clear, in his book Atomic Habits:
“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”
In this post, I’ll introduce you to a leadership framework I call Systems > Goals, and show you how to build habits and systems that actually deliver the results your goals were aiming for.
Ready? Let’s dive in. 🚀
Part 1: Understanding ‘Systems > Goals’
In this section, you’ll learn what this model actually means, where it comes from, and why it matters.
What are Systems and Goals?
Most people think of success in terms of goals: set a target, work toward it, and (hopefully) hit it.
A goal is the outcome you want.
A system is the process you follow to get there.
Here’s a simple example:
Goal: Run a marathon.
System: Run 5 days a week using a training plan.
Or in the workplace:
Goal: Improve customer satisfaction.
System: Close the loop with every customer within 48 hours of a support ticket.
The Systems > Goals model flips the focus. Instead of obsessing over the finish line, you zoom in on the process. You shift your energy from setting targets to building the habits that make progress automatic.
Why Systems Beat Goals Every Time
I do want to clarify, though: I’m not against goals. Goals are essential, but they suffer several limitations. Let’s discuss what these look like.
Goals
Goals are temporary. You achieve them, and then what? You stop. Progress ends. Most people backslide after hitting a goal. I had the same experience after my first half-marathon many years ago - I stopped running regularly, and my marathons ended abruptly.
Goals are often vague. “Be a better manager.” “Have fewer bugs.” “Increase team engagement.” These are hard to act on “in the moment”.
Goals depend on motivation. We all have our good and bad days. On good days, you may feel charged up and make progress. On bad days, you let it slide.
Systems
Systems fix all of those limitations.
Systems give you structure. There is less “fuzziness” to deal with and more clarity.
Systems reduce reliance on willpower. They feel less overwhelming, and more tangible and doable regularly.
Systems shift your focus from outcome to behavior. You may want to target “having shiny white teeth”, but you can’t get that unless you make “Brushing your teeth regularly” part of your daily routine.
By now, I hope you have a fair appreciation for the power of systems in leadership and business success. Next, let’s turn our attention to learning how to apply this framework in your leadership role.
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Part 2: Applying the Systems > Goals Framework
In this section, you will learn how to apply ‘Systems > Goals’ in your leadership role.
You will learn:
The 4-Step Habit Builder method to seamlessly turn your organizational and business goals into systems and habits your team can execute on.
Real-life leadership scenarios of how systems thinking works in everyday leadership, and how you can leverage the power of systems in those scenarios
How to put it into action in your own role and organization with the Systems > Goals Worksheet.
The 4-Step Habit Builder
The goal of the 4-Step Habit Builder method is to help you turn a goal into a system. Let’s review each step, one by one.