It Starts With Goal Setting

We’ve all glanced at the clock on a Friday afternoon and thought ‘man, what a busy week.’ But being busy is not a badge of honor and is not a goal to strive for. What we should be striving for is a Friday declaration more akin to ‘man, what a productive week!’

Organizations that do a lot of things are not necessarily productive. According to a Gallup poll, U.S. companies have more than?$450 billion?in lost productivity per year.?Goal setting and planning can turn a floundering organization into a productive one in no time.

Every organization has goals - from small businesses, to big businesses, to government agencies, to national laboratories, and non-profits. Some goals are intrinsically driven, others are set by the President of the United States himself. No matter where they originate from, goals give teams purpose and drive value for organizations in their respective sectors and industries. Organizational leaders around the globe are charged to inspire teams to move towards goals with cohesion and clarity.

A helpful way to approach goal setting is to think to the future and understand the desired end state. To use the cliché term, begin with the end in mind. Then, move to the business of defining the things that need to happen in order to reach the desired goals. The natural progression of goal setting includes discovery, definition, strategy, planning, implementing, and communicating. Let's dive into these steps which help organizations move forward in a productive way.

Discover

Discovery is perhaps the most important phase of planning. This is where requirements are defined, refined, and resourced. Listening is the best way to learn important information about goals, ideas, and challenges from all perspectives – both internal and external.

Example: Conduct listening sessions and focus groups.

Define Goals

Identify the mission and purpose of the organization, then move to define goals and state where the organization is headed. This becomes the foundation for strategic and operational plans. It also sets the stage for key messaging to ensure that leadership can promote their vision and inspire action.

This is a fifty-thousand-foot view of where an organization is headed.

Example: Our organization has set a goal to increase revenue.

Devise a Strategy

Strategy provides clarity on what an organization is working to achieve. It describes a future state that empowers the workforce to begin planning and implementing toward a desired end state. One effective method for this level of strategic planning is to develop objectives and key results (OKRs) that align to organizational goals. Objectives describe what an organization aims to achieve and key results are a set of two to five metrics that measure progress towards the objective.

This is a twenty-five-thousand-foot view of where an organization is headed.

Example: Win one small subcontract with a partner.

Objective: Target a partnership and teaming agreement on a Department of Defense (DoD) or Intelligence Community (IC) contract opportunity.

Key Results: Win one small contract for a team of 2-4 with a dollar value of approximately $500K.

Plan

Project and operational plans are the how-to-guides for a workforce. Achieving goals can be complicated endeavors with many moving parts so it is important to create plans that are clear and empower people to do their very best work. This level of planning can be granular and complex and is usually where leadership leans on the subject matter experts in an organization to weigh in on what will need to occur in the day-to-day to meet objectives and get things done.

Example: Write a business development plan identifying 3-5 potential partners to approach about a teaming agreement and at least two forthcoming requests for proposals to pursue. Include milestones, timelines, roles/responsibilities, and a budget.

Implement

This is where productivity lives! When plans are well-aligned to an organization’s mission, vision, goals, and strategies, teams can then dig in and get the right things done. A word of caution here: skimping on the steps leading up to implementation can cause confusion and busyness (the enemy of focus and intention). Ensure that plans and processes are clear so that people know what needs to be done.

Example: Let the project team execute against their plan and check in to ensure they have the resources needed for success and are empowered to negotiate a deal with a partner.

Communicate

Communication is a two-way street so both broadcast and feedback channels are key. Account for multiple audiences and stakeholders to ensure that the right information is delivered to the right people, at the right time. Targeting dynamic awareness campaigns that leave an impression and inspire action will be key to success.

Example: Develop a communication plan to accompany the project plan that identifies key messages and information; key audiences; and communication that needs to occur in conjunction with project milestones. The plan should also include a promotional element to get the word out about successful contract awards.

By prioritizing goal setting, strategic planning, and clear communication, organizations can shift from busyness to productivity and achieve their desired outcomes. Are you ready to take the first step? We can help!

About Team b. Strategy +

Team b. Strategy + is a woman-owned small business founded in 2011. We combine strategic planning and creative ideas to help our clients and partners achieve their goals. We specialize in defining objectives, devising strategies, and implementing plans. We are a team of professionals with over 150 years of combined experience in private industry, public sector, and military service. Team b. is diverse and creative and takes an agile approach to business that places emphasis on relationships and results specializing in strategy, communication, marketing, design, training, and government relations.?

Proud to be a Woman-Owned Small Business

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