Why these simple exercises are worth trying
The findings behind the questions, scores and goals.
These results explain why Telos draws on these practices. They concern the original questions or related techniques—not a tested success rate for the complete Telos Method.
91%reported improvement in at least one area
After ten days, 91% of 4,885 participants reported improvement in at least one of the six areas; 67% in at least four and 34% in all six.
Marshall Goldsmith, the executive coach and author who developed the six Active Questions, reported an online survey of people using them.
Begin with six questions about happiness, meaning, engagement, relationships and goals. Honest answers are the starting point—not a promise to change everything.
Goldsmith’s uncontrolled, self-reported survey—not a Telos trial or a guaranteed result. The report also records 9% unchanged and 3% worse on at least one item; improvement and worsening across different items can overlap.
Read the original research · Full evidence context
138randomised studies of progress monitoring
Across 138 randomised studies involving 19,951 people, monitoring interventions improved goal attainment on average.
Benjamin Harkin and colleagues brought together experimental research on monitoring progress towards goals.
Your scores and history give you a way to notice what is changing and, if useful, connect it with what was happening in your life. Notes are optional.
The average goal-attainment effect was d = 0.40: a standardised difference, not a 40% success rate. These studies did not test the Telos workbook or prove that higher effort scores mean better mental health.
Read the original research · Full evidence context
141papers reviewed on goal setting
Their review of 141 papers, involving 16,523 participants, found that goal setting improved behaviour on average.
Tracy Epton, Sinead Currie and Christopher Armitage reviewed experiments designed to examine the contribution of setting goals.
Write one goal that matters to you. That gives your attention a direction; your first action can still be just one sentence, one squat or one item put away.
The average effect on behaviour was d = 0.34, not a 34% success rate. This does not establish a result from handwriting alone or from the complete Telos course.
Read the original research · Full evidence context
The named researchers are credited for their work; they have not thereby endorsed Telos. Individual experience varies, and you do not need to study the research to begin.
