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 »

December 26th, 2009

Execution Tip: Think about your “Activity Alignment”

by Dr. Brian Higley

Good Activity Alignment is achieved via constant attention to how well the completion of simple “Yes-No” Activities (small activities that are either “done or not done”) help with the achievement of your SMART Goals (the specific, measurable steps toward fulfilling broader Objectives).  An indication of good Activity Alignment is reduction in two major barriers to Execution Excellence:

1. fewer instances of individuals “feeling busy” with a lot of activities without actually helping to achieve their SMART Goals and
2. fewer instances of wasted time, energy and revenue spent on daily activity that does not lead to goal achievement (Yes-No Activities that are not powerfully aligned with SMART Goal achievement in observable ways).

For example, if one exhibits Activity Alignment in relation to an SMART Goal like: “Take out all trash every Wednesday before 9AM” via Yes-No Activities aligned with that SMART Goal (e.g. “Empty the trash in one waste basket in a particular room”), there is often: (a) less time spent thinking about all the barriers to doing so (e.g., How to avoid taking emptying a trash can by focusing on other activities) and (b) less energy spent on activities not aligned with the SMART Goal in question (e.g., making the case that emptying one trash can is impossible or unfair so others support the idea of avoiding the activity). Read the rest of this Article »