Why is it that we’re often more motivated to follow through on promises made to others than on those made to ourselves? Whether it’s a project at work, a fitness goal, or even a personal resolution, making a public commitment can be a surprisingly effective way to boost your motivation. But what is it about telling others that makes us more likely to stick to our goals, and how can we use this strategy to our advantage?
Confidence in your abilities to go after your goals can sometimes be difficult to find or keep.
It can sometimes take time to discover the confidence you have inside you. This can be especially true if you are trying something new.
I have a program that can help you to discover what is holding you back from achieving your goals as well as help you set an attainable goal related to where you are in your life and where you are trying to be.
This program also works with you to build up your confidence in being able to reach your goal.
You can find out more about this program at Confidology, a funny name but a serious program.
You can contact me to talk about this or any other aspect of confidence and success at michael@coachmichaelw.com
Visit the site and read through the program description.
If you are not ready to commit to a full program, I have a self-paced course on Udemy that may be of interest. You can find out about the course and register at Confidence and Motivation Development and Maintenance
The power of public commitments lies in the concept of social accountability. When you make a goal known to others, you’re not just committing to yourself—you’re also inviting others to hold you accountable. This creates a psychological pressure to follow through because the fear of letting others down or appearing inconsistent can be a powerful motivator. In essence, you’re using the social expectation of reliability to reinforce your own resolve.
This idea is supported by psychological research, which shows that people are more likely to achieve their goals when they share them with others. One famous study by Dr. Robert Cialdini, a psychologist known for his work on influence and persuasion, found that people are more likely to act in accordance with their commitments when those commitments are made public. The reasoning is simple: once we’ve told others what we plan to do, we’re driven by a desire to be seen as consistent and trustworthy, which makes us more likely to follow through.
Public commitments also tap into our social nature. Humans are inherently social beings, and we care deeply about how we’re perceived by others. By making our goals public, we’re leveraging this social awareness to stay motivated. When others know about our goals, we’re more likely to stay focused and put in the effort needed to achieve them, because we want to live up to the expectations we’ve set.
So, how can you effectively use public commitments to boost your motivation? The key is to start by identifying a specific goal that you want to achieve. It should be something that’s important to you and challenging enough to require accountability. Once you’ve identified your goal, think about the best way to make it public. This could mean sharing it with a close friend or family member, announcing it to your social media followers, or even discussing it with a group of colleagues.
The level of publicness depends on what feels right for you. For some, sharing a goal with one trusted person is enough to create the necessary accountability. For others, the added pressure of a larger audience can be more motivating. The important thing is to choose a method that makes you feel both supported and accountable.
But public commitments aren’t just about telling others—they’re also about regularly updating them on your progress. By checking in with your chosen accountability partners, you reinforce your commitment and keep the momentum going. This ongoing communication can be as simple as a quick message or a more formal update, depending on what works best for you and your goal.
Actionable Step: Identify a goal you’ve been struggling to stay motivated about. Make a public commitment by sharing your goal with someone you trust or announcing it on a platform where you feel comfortable. Set up regular check-ins to update your accountability partners on your progress. Use the social pressure and support to stay on track and push through challenges.
While the fear of disappointing others can be a powerful motivator, it’s also important to balance this with a healthy mindset. Public commitments should be used as a tool to enhance your motivation, not as a source of stress or anxiety. Remember that the goal is to create a supportive environment where you feel encouraged to succeed, rather than pressured to perform perfectly.
In the end, public commitments can be a game-changer when it comes to achieving your goals. By sharing your intentions with others, you create a network of support and accountability that can help you stay motivated, even when the going gets tough. Whether you’re working on a personal project, a professional challenge, or a new habit, leveraging the power of social accountability can make all the difference.
To talk about any aspect of success or working with a Life Coach to help you to achieve success, you can book a 45-minute call by clicking on the blue button below.
Don’t try to do all of this by yourself, ask and receive the guidance that can get you moving towards your own success.
Nothing happens until action is taken.
To your success.
Michael
P.S Don’t forget to visit Confidology to learn more about the program. If you are not ready to commit to a full program, I have a self-paced course on Udemy that may be of interest. You can find out about the course and register at Confidence and Motivation Development and Maintenance
P.P.S if you want to find out more about my programs just check out the site Confidence and Life Coaching
P.P.P.S. If you enjoy reading these articles on my blog, I have more books that have more of this type of information that you can find out more about at Books to Read. You can buy these ebooks at many on-line book stores. The links to the bookstores are at the link above.
If you have an Amazon Kindle account, there are different books at Amazon – Michael W (author)
