Beyond The Goal
When you give managers 15 goals, which one are they to focus on? I’ve talked to many people at seminars, friends, family, co-workers and all at one time or another have said something along the lines of “well, I think this is what we are focusing on now.” What is wrong with this statement?
It’s not forward thinking.
It’s not a certainty (the word “think” is the give-a-way).
It implies that there are other things NOT being looked at.
When asked what their goals are, a LIST comes out. Most of which do not really seem to inspire it’s just more of a list. I’ve seen managers tick off their goals so they can walk away saying they have done them all. They don’t look beyond what’s given to them. More importantly they feel by looking beyond what is handed to them would be a bad thing.
This is not the mentality of a leader. A leader will reach beyond what is required of them. Not because they want to be an over achiever but because they want more then what is handed to them. They want to experience more, contribute more, go to the next level of whatever is out there and bring their team with them. Work does not have to be work unless you make it that. Work can be an inspiring place of vision and contribution if you let it and if you create it.
Recently I have reviewed a new groups goals. Some they wrote themselves, some were handed down for them. None of them stretch the individual. None of them work towards anything that is not face value. They have no motivation because their goals are things they will do every day – anyway. When questioned, it was interesting to see how many lacked motivation to do more then that. Not because deep down they did not want to but because they seemed to feel at the time the management would not have liked it if they did. Shame on that management team.
I look to my goals not for ease of trying to get a raise but to achieve a challenge of something more in the company. I fully believe they should be obtainable – but I should not be able to do them over night either. As a leader I ask myself – is my team challenged? Are they contributing more today then they were yesterday?
If the answer is no – invest the time to make it a yes.
What would a leader do?
~ Review your goals. Do they inspire? If not, meet with your manager and ask how you can change them to inspire you to reach for more.
~ Review the department goals. Do they stretch the current situation or it is just doing what you’ve always done? If they do not move the department forward, talk to your manager or director and find out why.
~ If you can not adjust your corporate goals, force yourself to reach beyond them on just one item. Do more then just check them off for the sake of a review!
~ Talk to your employees, how are they feeling about the goals that have been given to them. Work with them to provide something more interesting and challenging.
