Achieving our goals is at the heart of thriving as humans. Yet, anyone who works with teens and young adults knows just how complex goal achievement can be. Why do some young people push through challenges while others stall at the first obstacle? How can educators, coaches, and youth professionals use research-based approaches to empower youth? This blog explores the science behind goal achievement, offering practical strategies from behavioral science to help unlock their potential.
Every human has fundamental needs—for safety, belonging, accomplishment, and growth. We experience a sense of balance, or homeostasis, when our needs and desires match the resources available to us. But life is rarely perfectly balanced. When resources fall short, we feel a powerful urge to seek new solutions.
Teenagers and young adults stand at a critical juncture. Their natural need to grow and thrive is often challenged by changing circumstances, evolving social landscapes, and new expectations. Their brains are wired for learning, curiosity, creativity, and connection. These capacities are essential tools for navigating challenges and reaching meaningful goals.
Scientific research shows that areas of the brain responsible for higher-order thinking are rapidly developing in teens and young adults. These regions help with:
Through coaching, teens and young adults can build skills to leverage these up-and-coming abilities to nurture their growth and build resources for success.
Goal achievement is influenced by a blend of clarity, confidence, motivation, and commitment. When working with teens and young adults, consider these four pillars:
Self-discovery refers to understanding one’s unique interests, strengths, limitations, and dreams. Teens who lack clarity about their sense of self or what they want can benefit from structured exploration of their values and aspirations.
Practical exercises, such as a collage of their favorite people and things or value inventories, can help students identify what truly matters to them.
Self-efficacy means believing in one’s ability to achieve a goal. According to psychologist Albert Bandura, self-efficacy is a driving force behind motivation and persistence. Teens with low confidence may need encouragement, small wins, and feedback to build belief in themselves.
Self-concordance is a technical term describing goals that are in harmony with a person’s core values and interests. Folkman and Moskowitz (2007) found that young people are more persistent and successful when pursuing goals that resonate with their inner values.
Committing to ongoing effort is often where even highly motivated teens stumble. Self-management is the ability to persist in goal-related behaviors, even when motivation fades.
Not every teen needs the same level of support in each area. Some may need more work clarifying their goals, while others require encouragement to believe in their ability to achieve them. Coaching empowers teens by meeting them where they are.
Motivation is a complex, fluctuating force that propels us into action. There are two main types:
Intrinsic motivation comes from within. It is the drive to do something simply because it’s interesting or enjoyable. Coaches can help teens tap into this by exploring:
Extrinsic motivation comes from outside rewards and pressures, such as grades, praise, or approval. These “have to” motivators are sometimes necessary, but studies indicate that over-reliance on them can undermine internal motivation and interfere with the need for autonomy.
Motivation gets us started, but self-discipline and habits keep us going. Over time, consistent practice turns actions into automatic behaviors, making goal-striving feel effortless. Both motivation and self-discipline are essential partners on the path to achievement.
Duckworth and her colleagues (2011) identified two critical prerequisites for goal attainment:
Teen and Young Adults Coaches support both stages by nurturing commitment to personally meaningful goals and equipping young people with practical tools to maintain momentum.
Goal achievement is a process. Researchers (Dijksterhuis, 2010) have broken it down into four key stages:
When a goal is adopted and felt as personally chosen, the brain naturally begins to work toward it—even outside of conscious thought.
Successful coaching for teens relies on understanding these principles and tailoring support to individual needs. Clients arrive with varied levels of clarity, confidence, motivation, and commitment. Coaching involves:
Effective youth coaching is about more than just setting targets. It’s about helping teens discover what truly matters to them, building confidence, aligning goals with core values, and developing habits that stick. Whether you’re a parent, educator, or youth coach, integrating these science-backed techniques can foster long-term resilience and achievement.
Empowering youth is a dynamic process. By focusing on clarity, confidence, motivation, and commitment, you have the tools to make a meaningful impact and nurture the next generation of goal-achievers.
