Should You Tell People Your Goals? What Research Says
Should you tell people your goals? Why announcing goals can backfire, when public commitment helps, and how to share goals to build accountability.
Some advice says: tell everyone your goals, and you’ll feel committed to follow through. Other advice says: keep your goals secret, because talking about them makes you less likely to act.
Both have some truth. Whether sharing helps depends on how you share and who you tell. This guide looks at the research and shows how to share goals in a way that builds accountability. It’s part of our accountability partner guides.
When telling people can backfire
In a set of 2009 studies, psychologist Peter Gollwitzer and colleagues found that when people announced identity-related goals (like becoming a lawyer or a psychologist) and others acknowledged them, they sometimes put in less effort afterward than people who kept the goal to themselves.
One explanation: being recognized for the goal gives a premature sense of having achieved part of the identity. The praise substitutes for the work.
So announcing “I’m going to become a writer!” on social media and collecting likes may not help much.
When sharing helps
Sharing works better when it creates ongoing accountability, not just a one-time announcement:
- Specific actions, not identities: “I’ll write 300 words on weekdays at 7 AM” rather than “I’m going to be a writer.”
- Progress reports: regularly telling someone what you actually did.
- A specific person or small group, not a broad audience.
- Consequences you care about: someone who will notice and ask.
These elements are what make accountability partners and commitment devices effective for many people.
How to share goals the right way
1. Share the plan, not the dream
“I’m running three times a week, Monday, Wednesday, Friday” invites follow-up. “I’m going to be fit” invites praise.
2. Choose one or two people
A partner, a friend or a small group who will check in. See how to be a good accountability partner.
3. Report progress, not intentions
Agree to send a short update after each session or each week. Reporting what you did keeps the focus on action.
4. Ask for questions, not praise
“Ask me on Friday how many sessions I did” is more useful than “Wish me luck!“
5. Use quiet accountability if you prefer privacy
Some people dislike sharing goals at all. Shared sessions offer a middle ground: others see that you’re working, not your goal’s details or your results.
Disclosure: Cohorty publishes this journal. In Cohorty you book a 30-minute session and write a one-line plan visible only to people who booked the same time. You do the habit alongside them, with no camera or chat, and tap Done. It’s accountability through action, not announcements. See how Cohorty sessions work.
Public commitment vs private commitment
| Public announcement | Private commitment | Accountability with a person | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Example | Social media post | A note to yourself | Weekly check-in with a friend |
| Risk | Premature satisfaction | Easy to drop | Requires coordination |
| Best for | Rarely the main tool | Personal reflection | Most goals |
For the psychology behind accountability, see the psychology of accountability and the Hawthorne effect.
Common questions
Should you tell people your goals?
It depends how. Announcing identity goals for praise can backfire. Sharing specific plans with one or two people who will ask about progress tends to help.
Why does telling people your goals make you less likely to achieve them?
Some research suggests that being acknowledged for a goal can create a premature sense of achievement, reducing effort. This applied to identity-related goals in particular.
What’s the best way to share a goal?
Share a specific plan with a small number of people, agree on regular progress updates, and ask them to check in.
Is public commitment the same as accountability?
Not quite. Public commitment is announcing a goal. Accountability is regularly reporting what you actually did to someone who cares.
