Lätgoals

Lätgoals is a term used in productivity, design, and project management to describe a class of goals that deliberately tolerate change in scope and timing. Unlike rigid goal statements, lätgoals anticipate revision and encourage ongoing reassessment of objectives as conditions evolve. Proponents say this approach supports learning, resilience, and relevance in uncertain environments by prioritizing adaptable outcomes over fixed endpoints.

Origin and usage: The exact origin of the term is unclear. It has appeared in online discussions among productivity bloggers, designers, and agile practitioners since the late 2010s. The form is sometimes rendered as Lätgoals with a diacritic, though the underlying concept is widely discussed under plain English variants such as adaptive goals or flexible goal setting.

Characteristics and implementation: A lätgoal typically includes a primary objective paired with flexible criteria for success that can be revised. It emphasizes short feedback loops, measurable signals rather than fixed milestones, and regular re-evaluation intervals. In practice, teams define a core outcome and several adjustment levers that can shift without abandoning the overarching aim.

Relation to other concepts: Lätgoals are closely related to agile planning, OKRs, and outcomes-based management. Critics argue that excessive flexibility can reduce accountability or blur responsibility. Proponents counter that when used with clear governance, signals, and review cadence, lätgoals offer direction without locking teams into a single path.