Discussion on Podcast: Achieving Team Victory: Establishing Collective Objectives
In the latest episode of "Behind the Curtain: Adventures in Continuous Improvement," co-hosts Professor Mohamed Saleh and John Dyer delve into the complexities of team goal setting. The conversation sheds light on the importance of clear, structured, and meaningful goals that align with team values and broader company objectives.
One key takeaway is the need to avoid setting too many metrics, as this can lead to a lack of focus on overall performance. Instead, teams should aim for a few high-impact priorities, ensuring goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound, following the SMART criteria.
Another crucial aspect is the distinction between distal and proxy goals. Distal goals, such as eliminating hospital-acquired infections in a hospital setting or achieving 100% first-pass yield in a manufacturing setting, are ambitious, long-term aspirations. Proxy goals, on the other hand, are shorter-term, realistic milestones that provide clear indicators of progress and maintain momentum.
Honesty in metrics is paramount to prevent data manipulation for reaching proxy goals. For instance, not reporting injuries in a safety goal context can lead to incorrect assessments of progress and potential harm to employee well-being.
The experts stress the need for a culture that values honesty in metrics to avoid incentivizing wrong behaviors. They also suggest rethinking goal setting by focusing on process or culture improvement rather than just outcome improvement.
John Dyer provides an example of a golf pro who focuses on the process of swinging the club, rather than the outcome, to improve performance. This approach encourages continuous improvement and learning, rather than a narrow focus on results.
The hosts also caution against asking teams to accomplish a distal goal in six months, as it can lead to burnout and deterioration of employee well-being. Instead, goal setting should include both realistic proxy goals and more ambitious distal goals.
Collaborative goal setting is another essential strategy. Engaging team members in goal formulation and refinement fosters shared commitment and understanding among team members. This can be achieved through activities like sticky-note brainstorming and vision boards.
Regular monitoring and support are also crucial components of effective goal setting. Leaders should provide ongoing support, especially in handling setbacks, through constructive debriefs and by fostering psychological safety. Transparent tracking of progress helps maintain alignment and adjustment as needed.
In summary, to effectively set and manage team goals without demoralizing employees or hindering progress, use clear, structured, and meaningful goals aligned with team values and broader company objectives. Employ the SMART criteria and OKR frameworks, limit the number of goals, focus on distal and proxy goals, encourage collaboration, and facilitate regular monitoring and support. By following these principles, teams can achieve steady, motivating progress.
[1] Radical Focus: Achieving Your Most Important Goals with Objectives and Key Results, by Christina Wodtke [2] The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable, by Patrick Lencioni [3] The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses, by Eric Ries [4] Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, by Daniel H. Pink
- A balanced lifestyle that includes elements of fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, home-and-garden, and travel can contribute to personal-growth by providing opportunities for self-discovery and improvement.
- In the realm of relationships, one might set a goal to improve communication using the SMART criteria, aiming for a more harmonious and understanding dynamic.
- For the pet-lovers, a SMART goal could be to train their furry friends using positive reinforcement methods, promoting a closer bond and better behavior.
- In education-and-self-development, the distal goal could be to earn a degree, with proxy goals such as completing a certain number of courses or maintaining a specific GPA to track progress.
- In the car enthusiast's world, one could strive for the proxy goal of maintaining a clean and well-maintained vehicle, with the distal goal of eventually restoring a classic car to its former glory.
