Go Big

by Doc McIntyre

Tis the season for goal setting, so thought this quote from Dan Rockwell might get your juices flowing:

If you can reach your goal by yourself, you need a higher goal.

It should remind people that…

1. You can’t achieve really big stuff by doing more of the same and doing it by yourself.
2. You need to explicitly identify the people (mentors or teammates) who can help you, nudge you, and keep you honest.

As we gear up for quarter 2 and delve into the goal-setting process, it's crucial to adopt the principle of starting with the end in mind. What does this mean? Essentially, it involves beginning with a longer-term plan or objective to clarify where you're aiming to go. Before we can establish meaningful goals and objectives, we must first define what we're trying to achieve. Is your organization entering a growth phase? Are cost reduction and efficiency paramount due to recent economic shifts? Are there emerging competitors or technologies on the horizon? These considerations lay the foundation for starting with the end in mind.

When initiating Lean/kaizen events, articulating our objectives can often be challenging. While it's natural to express a desire to "get better" or "improve," it's imperative that these aspirations align with business needs. For instance, we might set a goal to "improve delivery performance," but this alone lacks specificity.

To refine our goals, we must establish measures and milestones to enable clear definition and measurement. Rather than leaving goals at a high level, we must delve deeper to establish clarity. This process involves asking critical questions, starting with the customer:

• What factors are important to our customers?
• Are there specific products requiring attention?
• Which segments perform best and worst?

Longer-term goals, such as reducing operating costs, improving inventory accuracy, or enhancing safety, serve as overarching objectives that guide organizational direction. These goals should resonate with employees, akin to the organization's "Super Bowl," and directly tie into customer needs.

To ensure alignment with customer expectations, the next step is to consult your customers directly. While they may not articulate precise goals, their feedback provides invaluable insights into areas requiring improvement.

In summary, setting long-term goals aligned with customer needs is pivotal for steering the organization in the right direction. Start by listening to your customers—they hold the key to guiding your strategic direction.