December 31st, 2009

Mission Activation: How to Actually Live Your Mission Statement (Even During Frantic & Uncertain Times)

by Dr. Brian Higley

Many organizations, teams and individuals work very hard to develop Mission and Vision Statements – yet almost everyone I speak with believes that they often do not seem to “live” these statements extremely well. Each year, a lot of valuable time and energy go into developing Mission Statements that will quickly be forgotten or ignored in the often frantic day-to-day activities that follow. And – here’s the kicker – most people know that they will not fulfill their Mission Statements even as they spend valuable time developing them! And yet we continue to develop Mission Statements (both personal and professional) even as we recognize deep down that most of them will not be fulfilled very well. What is going on here – and how can we stop wasting valuable time, energy and money developing statements that we know will not be fulfilled?

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December 26th, 2009

Execution Tip: Think your “Goal-setting Vision”

by Dr. Brian Higley

Good Goal-setting Vision is achieved via balancing manageable/realistic plans with plans that are also meaningful, ambitious and challenging. One indication that this is being attained is a feeling of being challenged to improve regularly (which can result in a feeling of forward-movement and decreased levels of boredom), while avoiding taking on too much challenge at one time (resulting in feelings of being overwhelmed).

If there are feelings of boredom or stagnation, it may be due to taking on too few challenging and/or meaningful goals or objectives.  If there are feelings of being overwhelmed, it may be due to too many difficult goals or objectives taken on at once. Read the rest of this Article »

December 26th, 2009

Execution Tip: Think about your “Goal Clarity”

by Dr. Brian Higley

Good Goal Clarity is achieved via constant attention to the development of specific, measurable steps toward fulfilling broader objectives.  An indication that this is being attained is reduction in two major barriers to Execution Excellence:

1. fewer instances of individuals wondering what to do and
2. fewer instances of things getting done that others never wanted to have done.

For instance, if one exhibits Goal Clarity in relation to a desire to complete a project (e.g., “Take out all trash every Wednesday before 9AM”), there is less confusion about what to do up-front and fewer instances of energy being wasted (e.g., Some trash begin taken out after the garbage collectors already came – which means energy is already wasted and more may need to be used to bring the trash back in until next week). Read the rest of this Article »

December 26th, 2009

Execution Tip: Think about your “Goal Alignment”

by Dr. Brian Higley

Good Goal Alignment is achieved via constant attention to how well the achievement of your clear goals (the specific, measurable steps toward fulfilling broader Objectives) actually bring about the outcomes you are looking to experience.  An indication of good Goal Alignment is reduction in two major barriers to Execution Excellence:

1. fewer instances of individuals “working hard” or “trying” without actually helping toachieve Objectives and
2. fewer instances of wasted time, energy and revenue spent on pursuing unimportant goals (goals that are not powerfully aligned with Objectives in observable ways).

For example, if one exhibits Goal Alignment in relation to an Objective like: “Maintain an environment of comfort” via goals aligned with that Objective (e.g., “Take out all trash every Wednesday before 9AM”), there is often: (a) less time spent thinking about all the barriers to doing so (e.g., How to avoid taking out the trash by looking very busy all the time) and (b) less energy spent on goals not aligned with the overall objective (e.g., taking the trash out the day after the due date, then telling others “I really tried hard, but couldn’t do it.”). Read the rest of this Article »

December 26th, 2009

Execution Tip: Think about your “Activity Clarity”

by Dr. Brian Higley

Good Activity Clarity can be extremely helpful when SMART Goals are not being achieved regularly due to confusion about how to do so.  Activity Clarity is achieved by breaking down SMART Goals into extremely small tasks that are either “done” or “not done.”  There is no way to say that these small activities are “almost done;” they are either completed or not completed (they are “Yes-No Activities”).

For example, one Yes-No Activity necessary for the achievement of the SMART Goal “Take out all trash every Wednesday before 9AM” might be: “Pick up the trash in one waste basket in a particular room” another Yes-No Activity might be: “Put the trash on the curb.”  These small activities are Yes-No Activities because they are either done or not done.  An answer to the  question: “Is the trash currently on the curb?” can only properly be answered in two ways: (a) “yes, it is” or (b) “no, it is not.”  The ability to break SMART Goals down into Activity Clarity is a critical skill associated with Execution Excellence.  On the other hand, inability to do so is one of the most powerful contributors to the Execution Crisis. Read the rest of this Article »