Systems eat goals for breakfast
““You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.””
We’re obsessed with goals.
Quarterly goals. SMART goals. Stretch goals. Personal goals. Organizational goals. We write them down, map them out, and then wonder why execution doesn’t follow.
But here’s the uncomfortable truth: you don’t have a goal problem. You have a systems problem.
The Nonprofit That Was Drowning in Good Intentions
A while back, I worked with a nonprofit whose leadership team was filled with brilliant, mission-driven directors. Every quarter, they set strong, clear goals. On paper, they were doing all the right things.
And yet… the results weren’t showing up.
When I dug deeper, it wasn’t hard to spot the issue. Each director had their own unwritten way of working. Volunteer recruitment, onboarding, and follow-up? Completely inconsistent. Some used spreadsheets, others texted from their phones. Some followed up in a week. Others forgot completely. The variance in execution was sabotaging their performance.
So we paused all the goal talk and did something far more powerful. We built a simple, repeatable system.
What We Actually Did
We created a uniform process that everyone could follow:
A simple intake form to collect volunteer interest
A centralized tracking system
A clear follow-up cadence
Shared scripts and templates
A basic SOP (standard operating procedure) that removed guesswork
Before this shift, it took a month to follow up with 100 volunteers. After implementing the system, every volunteer got a response within 24 hours.
That’s not hustle. That’s systemization.
Why This Works for Everyone (Even the Less Experienced)
The beauty of a well-designed system is that it creates equity in execution.
Whether someone is a rockstar communicator or a first-time director, the system sets the floor. It eliminates the need for heroics and makes results repeatable, even when skill levels vary.
A CRM isn’t the system. It’s just a tool. The real system is the underlying process that defines what happens, when, how, and why.
So, What About Your Team?
Ask yourself:
Where are results inconsistent?
Are people improvising their way through repeatable tasks?
Are you relying on talent instead of structure?
The goal might inspire action. Only the system sustains it.
Let’s Bring This Home
If you’re struggling with performance, don’t double down on motivation. Don’t write better goals. Build better systems.
The highest-performing teams don’t rely on willpower or wishful thinking. They rely on structure.
Because at the end of the day,
you don’t rise to your goals. You fall to your systems.
What’s one area in your leadership or organization where performance has stalled?
Now ask, What system would make success inevitable there?
Want some support with that?
Discover how powerful leaders are supported by powerful coaches. Let’s have a chat.
