Goal Setting & Achievement Techniques Flashcards
7 cards from real CPC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Goal Setting & Achievement Techniques flashcards as text
Which psychological principle explains why publicly announcing a goal can sometimes REDUCE the likelihood of achieving it?
Answer: Substitution effect — social recognition provides premature satisfaction that reduces drive
Research by Peter Gollwitzer found that social recognition of goal intentions can create a premature sense of goal achievement ('social reality'), reducing the motivation needed to follow through.
A client consistently sets ambitious goals but repeatedly fails to follow through. What underlying issue should the coach explore FIRST?
Answer: A possible gap between goal commitment and environmental or behavioral readiness
Repeated goal-setting without follow-through often signals a gap in environmental design, habit support, or behavioral readiness rather than a lack of desire or intelligence.
In the OKR (Objectives and Key Results) framework used in productivity coaching, what distinguishes 'key results' from 'tasks'?
Answer: Key results are measurable outcomes that indicate progress toward an objective, while tasks are activities performed
Key results describe measurable outcomes that signal progress (what must be true), while tasks are activities performed (what you do); confusing the two leads to activity without impact.
What is 'ego depletion' and how should a CPC coach account for it in goal planning?
Answer: The reduction in self-control capacity after sustained effort, requiring strategic rest and recovery
Ego depletion refers to the temporary reduction in willpower and self-control after sustained cognitive or emotional effort, which coaches should address by building recovery periods and reducing decision fatigue into goal plans.
A client wants to achieve a major goal in 12 months. Which planning approach helps ensure consistent progress without overwhelming the client?
Answer: Establish 90-day sprints with weekly micro-goals and daily actions
Breaking a 12-month goal into 90-day sprints with weekly milestones and daily actions creates a rhythm of consistent progress while maintaining strategic flexibility for adjustment.
Which of the following BEST explains why goals with intrinsic motivation tend to produce greater well-being than externally motivated goals?
Answer: Intrinsic goals satisfy fundamental psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness
Self-Determination Theory (Deci and Ryan) establishes that intrinsically motivated goals satisfy core psychological needs — autonomy, competence, and relatedness — producing deeper engagement and lasting well-being.
How does a productivity coach BEST help a client who achieves a major goal but then experiences a motivational 'crash' afterward?
Answer: Explore and anchor the client's sense of identity and purpose beyond any single goal
Post-achievement motivational crashes often signal that identity and purpose were overly tied to a single goal; coaches help clients reconnect with underlying values and build a sustainable motivational framework.