What! Place my yearly objectives on my desk for everyone to see! Why?

Awwww.. the yearly objectives. Hmmm let's give them a few titles. MBO's (Management by Objectives), YGA (Yearly Goals Assessments), YPR (Yearly Performance Rating) the list could go on and on and on until you change colors. Whatever the title is at your company, let's just sum it up and say, " it is the one way to rate your performance, which may determine if you get a bonus or in some cases if you will keep your job". I will expand upon the latter. Many years ago, while leading GE, Jack Welch introduced the concept of a “Vitality curve”. A vitality curve is a leadership construct whereby a workforce is graded in accordance with the individual productivity of its members. It is also known as forced ranking, forced distribution, rank and yank, quota-based differentiation, and stack ranking. Welch’s model has been described as a 20-70-10 system. The “top 20 %” of the workforce is most productive and 70%, “the vital 70”, work adequately. The other 10%, “bottom 10”, are nonproducers and should be fired. Some companies implemented this new concept to justify reorganizing, reengineering, or laying off people; all the same language just a fancier way of saying it.

I've had the pleasure of having some good managers (not leaders) who were good at doing these yearly assessment and some that were just flat out terrible. I've been pretty fortunate to coach and mentor a number of people from all walks of life throughout my career. Because of that, I've created some in your face direct ways to tackle the yearly objectives not only with your manager, but with colleagues at work. This is about being bold and taking control of your daily and annual performance. I’ve given this advice to all of the people I've led and the outcomes are greater than you can imagine.

What! Place my yearly objectives on my desk for everyone to see! Why?

I started this about 5 years into my career after being pulled into so many different directions at work. (Team player, hmmm… where was the team during my review?) Because of that, I would be working on my projects and sometimes helping out with other ad hoc projects. Though, I completed about 90% of my objectives that year, most people would have been happy; not me. (Over Index or bust for me) One of my PBODs (Personal Board of Directors) gave me a tip. He said, "Isiah, let the world see your objectives." I left the meeting and was confused by the statement, but later on that evening, while shopping for a picture frame for something else, it came to me. Why not place my objectives in a clear picture frame on my desk? Though the idea appeared to be crazy, the outcome over the years has been incredible not only for me, but for those I have mentored over the years.

Here is why you should do it:
· It is a direct reminder to you every day of what you should be focused on. You will be evaluated and being pulled into useless things that do not bring value to you or your employer is a big NO NO!.
· It directly informs colleagues and reminds your manager about your focus; therefore reinforces bringing projects that align with your goals as well as those of the organization
· It is a reminder to your manager that objectives should be considered consistently and not just every 6 or 12 months. Imagine when they see that on your desk? It’s bold! Somehow a casual 10 minute check in on a goal will start. Trust me on this one!
· Finally, place it beside a photo that means something to you. If you do that, it establishes a personal connection of why you show up each and every day.

If you are the CEO, EVP, GM or whomever, imagine setting the tone for the rest of your team by doing this. Regardless of where you sit in the organization, if you aspire to move forward, I suggest you take control of your career. Place those objectives on your desk front and center and watch how the game will change from a performance output.
So yes, place your objectives on our desk. Let the world see them! It's always good to let the world know that you are on a directed path versus the path of the unknown.

Isiah Reese

Twitter@isiahreese

Chief Customer Officer Speak 2 Me Communications LLC

www.speak2mellc.org

Published Author " From the school of business to corporate America"

Speaking or media inquires contact Isiah Reese @ [email protected] or [email protected]