Effective Goal-Setting Lies In Balancing Ambition With Realism: Anupam Mittal On Lok Sabha Election Result
Shaadi.com founder Anupam Mittal said that the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections result vividly illustrated the picture when unnecessary bravado and bluster backfire dramatically
On the counting day to determine which party will lead the government for the upcoming five years, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured a majority, clinching 292 seats. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 240 seats, signalling the conclusion of the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections in the nation. Several leaders from different walks of life, including business tycoons, social activists, and religious leaders, came forward to share their take on the election result.
Shaadi.com founder Anupam Mittal said that the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections result vividly illustrated the picture when unnecessary bravado and bluster backfire dramatically.
In a LinkedIn post on Wednesday, Mittal wrote, “How to Snatch Defeat from the Jaws of Victory? By Setting the Wrong Expectations! The recent elections have painted a vivid picture of how unnecessary bravado and bluster can backfire spectacularly.”
He further wrote, “While the BJP's achievement of securing power for a third consecutive term is no small feat, the leadership's promise that the NDA would surpass 400 seats turned a historic win into what feels like a loss. Misaligned expectations can erode trust, dampen morale, and ultimately lead to failure, even in the face of significant achievements.”
Mittal added that the phenomenon is not limited to politics but to professional life and any organisation. “This phenomenon isn't limited to politics—it's a critical lesson for professionals in any organisational setting. In companies, I generally see 2 types of extremes,” he wrote.
Further he wrote, “The Predictable Achiever: Leaders who set overly conservative targets to ensure their success chances are close to 100%. While they check-off the ‘target-met’ box, their managers see through the low-hanging fruit approach. So, these leaders end up in roles that are either non-critical OR ones that simply maintain the status quo.”
“The Unrealistic Pleaser: Leaders who accept ambitious, top-down targets without realistic assessments. They ‘like to please’ and want to be seen as alphas who can achieve anything. While their heart’s in the right place, they create a cycle of overpromising and under delivering.”
He said that effective goal setting lies in balance. He wrote, “In my experience, the key to effective goal-setting lies in balancing ambition with realism. Rigorous bottom-up planning, aligned with top-down targets, creates a framework where goals are challenging yet achievable. Stretch goals are essential, but they must be grounded in reality. Aiming for a 70-80 per cent success probability ensures that targets are ambitious but not completely unreachable. You could also outline them as 2 goals - a base level goal and a stretch goal.”
“This also aligns the orgs expectations clearly and even if you don’t get there all the way, you will still be seen as a ‘performer’. CEOs love leaders who swing for the fences. In essence, success isn't just about hitting numbers; it's about managing perceptions. Remember, the principle of "say what you're going to do, and then do what you said" is a cornerstone for being a star player,” he concluded.
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