What is characteristic of outcome goals?

Outcome goals are primarily focused on the end results of a performance or activity, such as winning a competition or achieving a specific rank. This type of goal is aspirational by nature, as it often entails a high level of performance that can depend on various external factors, including competition and circumstances beyond one's control.

While outcome goals can indeed motivate individuals to push towards a desired result, they are often considered the hardest to measure effectively due to their dependency on external variables. For instance, winning a race is an outcome goal, but the athlete's performance can be influenced by the skill levels of other competitors, weather conditions, and other situational factors that can't be controlled. Thus, success is not purely a reflection of one's own efforts or abilities, making it challenging to gauge the progress based solely on this type of goal.

In contrast, characteristics such as achievability and measurability relate more closely to other goal types, such as performance or process goals, which are more focused on personal benchmarks and improvements. By understanding that outcome goals are aspirational and present challenges in measurement, one can better appreciate the role they play in motivation and performance strategy.