Goals, Clarity, and Less

Do more goals lead to mo' better results?

I'm not so sure. In fact, I'm pretty sure that isn't the case. And I think I have some evidence to support it.

I've watched some corporate clients struggle over time. Their customers are  merging or choosing to go out of business. The marketplace is shifting from the U.S. and Western Europe to Asia, Eastern Europe, India, and South America. In the past, one of their businesses would have an outstanding year and compensate for bad times in the other units. Now all are having a tough time.

Here's what I've observed: The longer the bad times continue, the more the business units tend to increase their number of goals. It's as if the solution to everything is "more."  People are multi-tasking on multi-tasks. The results haven't improved. Plans are becoming more complex.

It seems to me that  there are always a few critical things that each of us do, whether we're a company or an individual. I really think the most productive thing that they could do at this point is stop. Get clear on 3-5 important items and stop doing all of the activities that are masquerading for goal-oriented productivity. Focus everything on the key areas. Then allow a reasonable period of time to see what happens before adding or changing anything.

Increased clarity combined with fewer focused goals can provide the time needed to perform the important things well.  

What do you think?

Comments

[Karin H.]

LOL

(But I second that! - although today I'm working on my pet project, but that on its own could turn into a profitable enterprise)

Karin H

[Steve Roesler]

Karin,

I would think that we'll see the results of today's pet project in the near future!

[Shaun Kieran]

The consensus so far mostly supports the more reflective approach as inherently more “healthy,” and I definitely agree, but I still can’t overcome my tendency to try to figure out why there’s so much resistance to such an obviously sensible approach.

Steve said,

Increased clarity combined with fewer focused goals can provide the time needed to perform the important things well.

Can provide. Not absolutely will provide.

And I think that’s the rub for most businesses. I can imagine some of the folks I’ve consulted with being politely skeptical, “Clarity, hmmmm, is that a quote from the Dali Lama?”

Businesses are biased toward doing, and the type A’s have the upper hand in most businesses. Type A’s don’t whine, they keep calling customers, they keep going out there, they keep producing work product - they DO things.

When is frenetic goal-making really just counter-productive busy work, the spinning of wheels, and a waste of good energy? Most of the time.

Not only do I agree with you, Steve, I’m sure most of the Type A’s would, too – if they slowed down long enough to take up the question.

Despite how it may seem sometimes, most organizations don’t really, literally wish to drive their people crazy with busywork or work them to death. But creating goals is what doers do. If business is down, the instinct is to respond by doing something.

Businesses are filled with people who see whatever success they’ve had to be the direct result of being doers, and who see introspection as an excuse for passivity.

This is one of the obvious ways enlightened leadership can make a real difference, because it’s scary when the waters get rough and bosses seem to have no clue. Good bosses help healthy organizations look out at the swirling “market” with reasonably calm detachment, make clear-eyed assessments, and help everyone focus, then act.

[Steve Roesler]

Shaun,

That's a very clear expression of this phenomenon.

The fact is, successful business owners and managers are successful because of their penchant for action. So it's understandable why the first place they would go in a pinch is to: more action.

Your Dali Lama reference made me smile. I've had to learn over the years to be careful of the language used when I have to tell someone to slow down. In fact, "slow down" isn't particularly popular and "reflect" will certainly get you tossed out the door. Something like "we need to take stock of the situation" works pretty well.

Intellectually, most managers I've worked with certainly do understand the need for clarity. And, it isn't usually their intent to drive people crazy. In genuinely difficult situations when the person isn't hearing the gravity of the situation I usually get feedback/comments from the direct reports regarding the impact of the situation on them. More often than not it at least makes a dent and opens up some room to pause and get clearer about things.

Thanks, Shaun. Your explanation should also be helpful to readers whose bosses may be driving hard when they should be gaining a bit more clarity.

[Nancy E. Lewis]

Our company aggressively supports telecommuting for many of us, and I love working from home when I'm in the writing/editing our company newsletter phase. I am so much more creative when still in my pajamas, cracking myself up with my own wit, and loving life because I am focused on only one goal: writing for my peeps. If I'm at the office while trying to accomplish this the result is never as good - I can't turn my phone off, hide behind a locked door people because knock on my window, and my headphones don't send as clear a "i'm busy being creative please don't interrupt" message as I hope...but, I can multitask all week knowing that come Monday, I'll be in my 'jams and jamming from home.

[Steve Roesler]

Nancy,

We definitely shouldn't video Skype in the a.m. :-)

Like you, I find "focus" a lot easier at home alone with the crickets chirping. Interruptions don't allow for the depth of thought needed to turn out something meaningful; at least that's how it works for me.

As for check-lists and routine stuff: no problem sitting in the middle of a four-lane highway.

[Wally Bock]

Congratulations! This post was selected as one of the five best business blog posts of the week in my Three Star Leadership Midweek Review of the Business Blogs.

http://blog.threestarleadership.com/2008/08/06/8608-a-midweek-look-at-the-business-blogs.aspx

Wally Bock

[Steve Roesler]

Wally, thank you for the kind acknowledgment.