Learn why goals aren’t getting you the results you want, and why you should be setting objectives and key results instead.
Goals Are Just Wishes In a Suit and Tie
I love treating business as a game and being competitive. But I don’t love goal-setting. Goals make me think that where I am at today is bad and where I want to be in the future is good. It’s a phenomenon called by Dan Sullivan “the gap in the game.” As I got closer to the goal, I’d just move the goalpost further away.
Goal setting can also become wish making. Losing 10 lbs, getting 50 new clients, etc. are great goals. However, naming a goal doesn’t include making a plan to accomplish anything.
Because of the frustration this causes, I’d like to share why I moved away from goals and what I currently use.
Everyone Trains On Goal-Setting
I’ve invested thousands of dollars in my own personal and professional development. I’ve also heard many frameworks about how to set goals in business. The fact of the matter is that this is the most widely-accepted method to accomplishing things in most industries. So with all this training and implementation, you may find it hard to believe that I don’t use goals.
SMART Goals
There are countless entrepreneurs who love goals. For example, Michael Hyatt teaches SMART goals and does a great job. Truthfully, I used that philosophy for years, but over the past 18 months I noticed a pattern. You can have something you want to accomplish, but it won’t fit into a goal framework. Improving customer process or journey, for example, aren’t goals. However, they are extremely valuable in a business.
Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) Over Goals
I found my next right thing in a book by Michael Doerr called “Measure What Matters.” This framework is what made sense to me.
When you set objectives, you begin to look at key results that push you closer to the objective. Usually, 2-3 results can point to the same key objective. These replace goals. For example, your objective could be to improve the sales process. Key results could include reaching out to 50 new leads weekly, automating certain steps of the sales process, and creating a seamless new client onboarding. If you hit those key results, then you’ll know you hit the key objective. As you make progress, you can measure the results on your business scoreboard.
Set Your OKRs
You may outline core values, 2023 objectives and key results, quarterly targets, a plan to make them happen, and key results measured on a scoreboard. How powerful would it be for your business to have this outlined on a front and back piece of paper?
For today, focus on the objectives and supporting key results you want to see in 2023.
Grow Your Leadership
Bradley has many resources to grow your leadership in the area of vision and priorities. Check out a few of them:
After you have a blueprint, it’s time to build the plan. What are the things you can have in a plan that actually works? Here are Bradley’s 5 steps to building a plan that actually works for your business. Keep reading…
As we begin 2023, do you know where you want to be at the end of the year? Here’s why you need a blueprint for your business, and how to make one. Keep reading…
It’s difficult to get to your destination if you aren’t sure where you currently are! After all, the path from Minnesota to Canada is very different than the path from Mexico to Canada. If you aren’t certain where you’re at today in business, you need to take the Rainmaker to Architect assessment. It will gauge your strengths and weaknesses as a leader and in your business. Then, you’ll get detailed, specific suggestions for improvement. Take the assessment here.