Moving Goalposts
Moving goalposts turn completion into a moving target.
Clear definition
What it means
After you meet the stated standard, the standard changes.
Common situation
A common situation
You deliver the agreed draft. Your boss says, 'Good start. Now make it a full deck by tomorrow.'
Completion is being converted into a new test rather than recognized as the original agreement.
Underneath
What is actually happening
Moving goalposts keep you chasing approval by changing the finish line.
The fix is to name the original standard and treat the new one as a new request.
How to recognize it
How to recognize it
- Watch for 'yes, but now...' after you complete the original request.
What it sounds like
Common lines
That is a start, but it is not enough anymore.
I know I said one section, but the expectation changed.
Good, now prove you can handle the harder version.
Use it in the moment
What to do next
- Name the original agreement.
- Treat the new standard as a new request.
Keep the line clean
Mistakes to avoid
- Do not keep sprinting after a standard nobody will define.
- Do not accept vague expectations as a contract.
Response language
Response scripts
The original agreement was a draft. A full deck needs a new timeline.
I can discuss the new standard, but it is separate from what we agreed.
Before I continue, I need the acceptance criteria defined.
Practice layer
When to use the simulator
Use the simulator when praise quickly turns into more unpaid labor. Practice naming the old bar before negotiating the new one.