![\"Stretch](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Stretch-goals.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nWhat is a stretch goal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A stretch goal is a difficult-to-achieve goal you set on purpose to push employees past their comfort zone and take performance and results to new heights.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The purpose of setting these goals is to get as close to the desired result as possible \u2014 along the way, you\u2019ll improve productivity, get innovative ideas, and maybe even achieve the full goal and reap the rewards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That \u201cmaybe<\/em>\u201d is key, though. By nature, these goals are difficult to achieve, so there\u2019s always a good risk of failure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And there\u2019s the catch \u2014 if you want to be sure you\u2019ll achieve a stretch goal, you need plenty of resources and good performance. In that case, though, you don\u2019t really need to take risks in the first place. On the other hand, if your performance is low, you\u2019re less likely to hit the goal \u2014 but that\u2019s when you need a stretch goal most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, the best stretch goals are ones that give you benefits, even if you fail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n Break down even the most difficult goals with simple task management, easy progress tracking, and clear collaboration in Plaky by CAKE.com!<\/p>\n Stretch goals are a less \u201csmart\u201d option, set to be more ambitious than realistic, while S.M.A.R.T. goals are focused on being clear and achievable.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In most cases, managers tend to go for S.M.A.R.T. goals<\/a> rather than stretch goals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n By comparison, S.M.A.R.T. goals are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The purpose of S.M.A.R.T. goals is to set clear limits and provide simple and straightforward objectives. Basically, they\u2019re the safe option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stretch goals, on the other hand, push the boundaries of \u201cachievable<\/em>\u201d and strive for higher results. Since they\u2019re riskier, they\u2019re considered less smart \u2014 however, they can set a strong foundation for future work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Stretch goals and <\/strong>OKRs (Objectives and Key Results)<\/strong><\/a> aren\u2019t all that different \u2014 in fact, stretch goals are a part of OKRs.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n OKRs are separated into 3 segments:<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, while key results can<\/em> be stretch goals, they can also be S.M.A.R.T. goals. It all really depends on the type of objective you\u2019re setting \u2014 if your OKRs need<\/em> to be achieved, you should avoid setting stretch goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To better illustrate what a stretch goal is, we\u2019ve prepared a few examples across different industries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1 Plaky pro tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you need help implementing stretch goals in the following industries, check out how you can use Plaky by CAKE.com to lead projects in each of them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Setting stretch goals is far from an instant decision. You need to carefully think it through, decide on a plan, and be sure that it\u2019ll pay off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ve prepared 6 steps you absolutely must go through if you want to achieve your goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before you even plan a stretch goal, you need to consider if it\u2019s the right moment for such bold actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You definitely shouldn\u2019t pursue one if:<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, you should<\/em> go for a stretch goal if:<\/p>\n\n\n\n But, most of all, you should be sure your team is ready for this task \u2014 so talk to them. Introduce the idea, and be sure they\u2019re ready for it. Plus, if you make the decision together, they\u2019re more likely to follow through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since these goals are so ambitious, they\u2019ll eat away at your project resources \u2014 so, make sure you have enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First, check your finances. You have to be able to support your team through every trouble and expense that comes with high stakes. If you dive into a stretch goal without the right funds, you\u2019ll be sure to fail \u2014 and maybe even go bankrupt along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then, check for other project resources<\/a>. Do you have just enough for your current workflow? Or would you be able to cover for unexpected malfunctions, delays, or missing assets? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t underestimate the importance of resource allocation<\/a> \u2014 otherwise, you likely won\u2019t achieve your stretch goal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that you know you can perform a stretch goal, it\u2019s time to decide what it will be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But don\u2019t define it by yourself \u2014 again, include your team in the process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, just because these goals should be difficult, doesn\u2019t mean they should be impossible. Instead, agree on a goal your team can<\/em> achieve, and then make it a bit more challenging. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, \u201cWe can get to $100k sales revenue this week<\/em>\u201d turns into \u201cLet\u2019s try to get to $125k sales revenue this week<\/em>\u201d. So instead of getting demotivated, your team will think \u201cIf I could do the first option, I can put in a bit more effort.<\/em>\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n This sentence structure helps motivate your team and grounds your stretch goal as something challenging, but conquerable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that you have a goal in mind, it\u2019s time to put it into perspective. You can\u2019t simply state \u201cI want this to happen<\/em>\u201d and not define a deadline \u2014 otherwise, you could just work towards it forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A stretch goal can be set with a shorter project deadline<\/a> than usual to increase efficiency. Be careful, though! With too little time to reach the target, your team will become too anxious, and maybe even give up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other hand, if your deadlines are too far away, it might make them too relaxed. After all, a little bit of anxiety is good \u2014 it makes people perform better than they otherwise would.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, similar to defining goals, set timeframes by grabbing what your team is comfortable with and making it a bit more challenging. <\/p>\n\n\n\n All that\u2019s left now is to make sure you\u2019re on the right track \u2014 by setting key performance indicators (KPIs)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These success metrics will tell you how close you are to reaching your goal. Make sure you take into account that when it comes to stretch goals, progress is success, too.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, if you\u2019re trying to increase sales numbers, your KPI will be \u201csales profit achieved\u201d. If you get to that goal, great. But, as long as you pass an initial goal (in this case, it can be your average\/max monthly sales), you can consider yourself successful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You also need to make this clear to the project stakeholders<\/a> \u2014 there\u2019s a good chance you\u2019ll fail to reach the stretch goal. Use KPIs to present a separate point of success to make sure your team stays motivated and your senior management sees the value of your goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Track KPIs with Plaky\u2019s Chart view<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n At the end of your defined project timeline<\/a>, you need to examine the results of your work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019ve achieved the stretch goal \u2014 congrats! You just set a new status quo that\u2019ll likely lead your projects into even greater success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But, if you\u2019ve failed, ask yourself:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the answer to any of these questions is a \u201cyes<\/em>\u201d, congrats again! The stretch goal was successful \u2014 just not to its full extent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Examine what went wrong, where you can improve, and which part of your plan led to positive results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stretch goals, scary as they seem, come with many benefits to your company and <\/em>your team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some of them include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stretch goals can\u2019t be achieved with a scattered team. Keep your team aligned with Plaky by CAKE.com!<\/p>\n While stretch goals can bring lots of benefits, there are also some downsides to consider. If done at the wrong time or in the wrong way, they can be more of a hindrance than a help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Be wary of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Break down goals to avoid overworking, give tasks clarity, and foster trust and transparency with Plaky by CAKE.com!<\/p>\n Aside from the necessary steps for setting stretch goals, there are 5 additional tips to keep in mind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You should be set for following your goal if you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n With such a difficult road ahead of you, you need something you and your team can rely on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You need a simple, powerful project management tool \u2014 Plaky<\/a> by CAKE.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Break down your goals easily with Plaky\u2019s clear hierarchy and:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Plaky also makes sure your team will stay on the same page and collaborate effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your team members can leave comments<\/a> to each other, communicating with ease and leaving info for anyone else who needs it. This way, you promote a culture of open communication and avoid working in silos<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You also need easy access to the project plan \u2014 as well as any other documents you need to achieve the goal. So, simply use Plaky\u2019s file sharing<\/a> feature to keep them organized and sorted by the tasks they refer to.<\/p>\n\n\n But most of all, you need something to make sense of the hectic environment stretch goals create. So, with Plaky and its affordable paid plans<\/a>, you can use:<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Plaky](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-blog\/theme\/images\/banners\/default@2x.png)
\n <\/picture>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n \n\n\n\nWhat\u2019s the difference between S.M.A.R.T. and stretch goals?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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What\u2019s the difference between OKRs and stretch goals?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Stretch goals examples<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Marketing stretch goals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Sales stretch goals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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HR stretch goals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Software development stretch goals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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How to set and achieve stretch goals in 6 steps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
#1 Analyze where you are at the moment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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#2 Check your resources<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
#3 Define the stretch goal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
#4 Add time frames<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
#5 Define success metrics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
#6 Examine results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Benefits of stretch goals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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![\"Plaky](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-blog\/theme\/images\/banners\/features@2x.png)
\n <\/picture>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n \n\n\n\nChallenges of stretch goals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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![\"Plaky](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-blog\/theme\/images\/banners\/landing-2@2x.png)
\n <\/picture>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n \n\n\n\n5 tips for surviving stretch goals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Make stretch goals seem easy with Plaky<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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![\"Creating](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Create-clear-and-customizable-boards-in-Plaky.png\")
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![\"Using](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Keeping-work-flexible-with-Plakys-Gantt-view.png\")