You know, it’s kind of like when my kids are all hyped about acing their season and bringing home that coveted trophy. They’re over the moon, right? But, not long after, that excitement fizzles out and they’re onto the next big thing.
Isn’t it similar to how most organizations set their goals? Take a look at the Business Leadership Excellence 2×2 model below. You’ll notice most businesses are hanging out in Quadrant 3, at the lower right. They’re hustling hard to scoot along the ‘X-axis’, whether it’s hitting a revenue target or planning an expansion to new regions.
But let’s be honest, are these the kind of goals that get everyone on the team pumped? Probably not, unless you’re the CEO.
So, what does a truly engaging goal look like? Well, it’s something more than just raking in the cash. It’s a mission that others might say is impossible for a profitable business, something that pulls us up the ‘Y-axis’ and keeps us focused in the long haul.
Just imagine, what if your organization became the go-to recommendation, or you managed to hold onto more of your millennial talent? How about if your organization climbed to the top – Quadrant 4 – and managed to stay there? Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?
If you’re nodding along and thinking, ‘heck yeah, we’d be rolling in more dough in the upper right quadrant than the lower one’, here’s a tip for you: One of the four ways to sprinkle culture into your strategic execution to get you moving up the chart – weave in a meaningful goal into your strategic plan.
After all, at the end of the day, nothing motivates like a challenge that matters.
