The primary reason why people don't achieve the goals they set is that they lack focus. To change that, you need to take 20 steps in the same direction, rather than one step in 20 directions.
As we pass into 2023, no doubt many people will have set new year resolutions to lose weight, get a new job, dump their current partner, set themselves outrageous career targets to acquire huge sums of money. The problem with this type of goal setting is it does not last.
Most of us have dropped our best intentions before the end of January. You see it all the time. Gym bunnies visibly dedicate themselves to new fitness, and then their gym attendance takes a distinct dive as February shows up.
Top Management Teams
People commit to setting themselves life goals but in a organisational setting few sit around the Board table and plan collective goals. Strategic goal-setting does not need to be a struggle.
I was asked recently how this could be made to happen. I asked why it had not worked for them in the past. The answer was obvious. They had set too many humungous projects all operating at the same time.
The team lacked focus and were dissipating their energies. They were taking too few steps to achieve their stretching strategic goals. When questioned further, it transpired they were trying to do too much all at the same time. They would start something, get busy, lose focus and then momentum, try to restart things a few months later, and then have to re-evaluate why things were not working for them.
Focus on the One Thing
It was obvious why things were not working. There was no cohesion in the planning process. Goals where not shared across organisational and functional boundaries.
You cannot do all things at the same time. You must prioritise first and then sequence your goals setting and getting. Its as true in corporate as it is in your personal life. Being honest, how many of us realistically believe we can get super fit, tone our bodies, attract that marvelous person into our life, build a new business and earn super bucks – all at the same time. Something has to give.
Cohesion & Direction
In business you cannot do it all at once unless you have a very cohesive management team. You may well commit to one project, but your attention and energy will be diverted from other things – you have to manage your and others expectations of these other things.
Time Travel cannot be Mastered
Every action you commit to has opportunity costs – that is, what other things could you have achieved if you had used your energy and resources to pursue other strategic imperatives.
You can only be in one place at a time. You cannot equally displace your energy to several projects at the same time. You cannot Time travel or duplicate your energy and motivation. Your willpower will run out and you will not be able to sustain momentum on multiple fronts.
Too Many Shiny Objects
We can all get distracted by numerous opportunities. We need to appraise the likelihood of achieving the several possibilities on offer.
If you need support to achieve your senior management thinking, ask for a copy of our strategic planning processes which are succinctly explored in several of our published Journal articles.
If this of interest to you, email Philip and I will get back to you.
As we pass into 2023, no doubt many people will have set new year resolutions to lose weight, get a new job, dump their current partner, set themselves outrageous career targets to acquire huge sums of money. The problem with this type of goal setting is it does not last.
Most of us have dropped our best intentions before the end of January. You see it all the time. Gym bunnies visibly dedicate themselves to new fitness, and then their gym attendance takes a distinct dive as February shows up.
Top Management Teams
People commit to setting themselves life goals but in a organisational setting few sit around the Board table and plan collective goals. Strategic goal-setting does not need to be a struggle.
I was asked recently how this could be made to happen. I asked why it had not worked for them in the past. The answer was obvious. They had set too many humungous projects all operating at the same time.
The team lacked focus and were dissipating their energies. They were taking too few steps to achieve their stretching strategic goals. When questioned further, it transpired they were trying to do too much all at the same time. They would start something, get busy, lose focus and then momentum, try to restart things a few months later, and then have to re-evaluate why things were not working for them.
Focus on the One Thing
It was obvious why things were not working. There was no cohesion in the planning process. Goals where not shared across organisational and functional boundaries.
You cannot do all things at the same time. You must prioritise first and then sequence your goals setting and getting. Its as true in corporate as it is in your personal life. Being honest, how many of us realistically believe we can get super fit, tone our bodies, attract that marvelous person into our life, build a new business and earn super bucks – all at the same time. Something has to give.
Cohesion & Direction
In business you cannot do it all at once unless you have a very cohesive management team. You may well commit to one project, but your attention and energy will be diverted from other things – you have to manage your and others expectations of these other things.
Time Travel cannot be Mastered
Every action you commit to has opportunity costs – that is, what other things could you have achieved if you had used your energy and resources to pursue other strategic imperatives.
You can only be in one place at a time. You cannot equally displace your energy to several projects at the same time. You cannot Time travel or duplicate your energy and motivation. Your willpower will run out and you will not be able to sustain momentum on multiple fronts.
Too Many Shiny Objects
We can all get distracted by numerous opportunities. We need to appraise the likelihood of achieving the several possibilities on offer.
If you need support to achieve your senior management thinking, ask for a copy of our strategic planning processes which are succinctly explored in several of our published Journal articles.
If this of interest to you, email Philip and I will get back to you.
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