Episode 8: Setting Growth Goals That Stick

05/12/25 • 9 min

Setting goals is easy — sticking to them is the hard part. In this episode of Mission 501: The Podcast, Ryan explores how growth-focused goals can create lasting motivation and effective personal and professional development in nonprofits. Learn why shifting your approach around growth goals makes all the difference when it comes to sustainable success.

📚 Resources for Further Exploration

Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Carol Dweck's work on growth mindset is foundational for understanding how focusing on learning and improvement (rather than just outcomes) leads to more resilient, lasting growth.

Latham, G. P. (2004). The motivational benefits of goal-setting. Academy of Management Executive, 18(4), 126–129. Latham explores how setting "learning" or "growth" goals — rather than performance goals alone — leads to deeper motivation and more sustainable progress.

Seijts, G. H., & Latham, G. P. (2005). Learning versus performance goals: When should each be used? Academy of Management Executive, 19(1), 124–131. This article discusses why and when to prioritize learning/growth goals and how it affects team and individual performance.

Grant, A. M. (2017). The Third 'Generation' of Workplace Coaching: Creating a Culture of Quality Conversations. Coaching: An International Journal of Theory, Research and Practice, 10(1), 37–53. Grant’s research ties coaching and growth goal-setting together — especially useful if you're managing or mentoring others.

Clear, J. (2018). Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones. While it's not about "goals" per se, Clear’s insights on identity-based change strongly reinforce the idea behind setting authentic growth goals that are sustainable.

📚 Resources for Further Exploration

Previous Episode

Episode 7: Goal Model Overview: SMART Goals | OKRs | HARD Goals

Setting the right kinds of goals can make or break success—especially in mission-driven work. In this episode of Mission 501: The Podcast, Ryan breaks down three major goal-setting models: SMART goals, OKRs, and HARD goals. Learn what each model offers, where they shine, where they can fall short, and how to choose the right approach for your nonprofit team or personal development.

📚Resources for Further Exploration 📌 SMART Goals

📖 Creating SMART Goals https://www.mindtools.com/a4wo118/smart-goals https://www.atlassian.com/blog/productivity/how-to-write-smart-goals

📌 OKRs (Objectives and Key Results)

📘 “Measure What Matters” by John Doerr https://whatmatters.com This site offers extensive OKR templates and case studies based on Doerr’s work.

📌 HARD Goals

📗 “HARD Goals: The Secret to Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be” by Mark Murphy Overview and concept summary: https://www.leadershipiq.com/blogs/leadershipiq/43579969-hard-goals-vs-smart-goals

Next Episode

Episode 9: What's the Big Deal With the Big Five?

In this episode of Mission 501: The Podcast, Ryan explores the Big Five personality traits — what they are, why they matter, and how understanding them can strengthen nonprofit teams and leadership. You’ve probably heard of personality frameworks before, but this one’s the real deal. From collaboration to conflict and beyond, the Big Five quietly shape the way we work together. Listen in for practical examples, a bit of psychology, and nonprofit-relevant insights that just might change how you think about personality at work.

💡 Want to dig deeper on the Big Five?

Whether you’re just getting to know the Big Five or want to explore the research behind it, here are some great resources to get you started — from beginner-friendly reads to foundational academic work:

Take the Big Five for Yourself! This adapted version of the Big Five from Open Psychometrics is a great way to get a quick measurement of your own Big Five traits. Complete for yourself, then have your team complete and compare results! https://openpsychometrics.org/tests/IPIP-BFFM/
Verywell Mind: The Big Five Personality Traits https://www.verywellmind.com/the-big-five-personality-dimensions-2795422 A straightforward guide that breaks down each of the five traits and what they look like in everyday life. Great place to start.
Psychology Today: Big Five Basics https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/big-5-personality-traits A bite-sized explanation of each trait, how they show up, and why they matter.
Britannica: Five-Factor Model of Personality https://www.britannica.com/science/five-factor-model-of-personality A crisp, encyclopedic summary with scholarly clarity. Great for listeners who want a reliable high-level overview.

Academic + Historical Sources

Goldberg (1981): Language and Individual Differences (PDF) https://projects.ori.org/lrg/PDFs_papers/universals.lexicon.81.pdf The original academic paper where Lewis Goldberg coined the term “Big Five” and laid the groundwork for this personality model.
Widiger & Crego (2019): Update on the Five Factor Model https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/wps.20658 A scholarly but accessible summary of where the model stands today, its applications, and why it holds up across cultures and studies.