How to – Insure Goal Success When a spacecraft gets off of its trajectory (it’s route through space), it must be put back on the right path. The location of the spacecraft is determined and its course vector (the speed and direction of its flight) is calculated. This is compared with the path it should be on. A new vector is computed that will put it back on course. The ship's attitude thrusters aim the ship and the main thruster pushes it along the path.

The summer is a great time to make course corrections for those goals that were set at the beginning of the year. Taking the time now to review and possible amend goals set in January, determine priorities, review possible changes, additions or deletions and create realistic milestones can go a long way to lessening the flurry of activity that often comes in the fall. It also can help you sidestep the panic and last minute crunch people experience in December.

SIMPLE STEPS

• Block out a few hours one day this week. While it actually may not take you a few hours to get this done, it’s good to have the block of time if it’s needed. This is especially true if you will be talking with others about goals and objectives set. People find that true discussion takes longer than they estimate. Better to have enough time to delve into matter well. If you don’t need the time, everyone will get the ‘gift’ of unplanned time that day (which people can always use!).

• Have the goals and objectives that were set at hand.

• Eliminate those objectives that have already been accomplished.

• Eliminate the goals and no longer makes sense or apply for the rest of 2007.

• Add any new goals, projects, assignments or initiatives that have materialized since the lost of objectives was written.

• Prioritize. This can be done in terms of dates due, importance, lead time needed, impact on the organization, or degree of difficulty.

• Create realistic milestones so that you start with plenty of time to successfully achieve the result, deal with potential delay’s and give people plenty of time to do their part.

• Look ahead to next year. Are there any goals that you might be able to start during the last quarter of 2007? If so, write them down as possible goals to add during the 4th quarter should you have the time. This will give you a head start on next year’s goals.

While no one has a crystal ball to predict exactly what the last six months of the year will bring, take time now to plan how your time will best be spent.

Labels: goals, planning, success

  1:08 PM •  0 Comments •

How to – Run a Successful Planning Session Off site meetings, annual staff retreats and planning sessions may induce some anticipatory stress for the participants. People either find them painful or boring. The goals for getting the staff together have value. These meetings provide opportunities to plan for the upcoming year, meet with fewer distractions, spend time together in a more relaxed setting and strengthen relationships among staff members.

Better planning always makes for better meetings:

Have Clear Goals

Figure out the key objectives for your meeting and then prioritize them. Be clear about outcomes and state what they are before the meeting so that participants can see how the success of the meeting will be measured.

Tell Them in Advance

Communicate the topics for discussion, goals and objectives, agenda and expectations well in advance and more than once. Even if your retreat is about creativity and spontaneity, it will be more productive if people have planned for it! Good ideas come from a prepared mind.

Don’t Do Too Much

Choose no more than three objectives that can be thoroughly dealt with in the time you have allotted. Give people ample time for discussion and problem solving. Don’t overload the day with activities and cut things short. Think quality and not quantity.

Bring in a Facilitator

Bring in an experienced facilitator. This allows the boss to be a contributor. An outsider’s perspective who will ask the hard questions, allow the group to get to some deeper issues, makes sure everyone is heard from, and illuminate discussions and new ideas can be a breath of much needed fresh air to stale interaction. It can temper the amount the boss talks and increase the chances for others to contribute.

Make Plans for Follow Up Before You Leave

The end of the retreat is the springboard for action. Your meeting can serve as the vehicle to produce concepts, teambuilding, innovation, new ideas and growth. Before you leave state next steps clearly, assign projects and determine the follow-up timetable. Determine how things will be communicated, by whom, to whom and by when. Figure out how progress will be tracked and have a back up plan if problems arise.

Whether you call it a team meeting, board retreat, strategic planning session or staff off-site, you can turn it into a value-enhancing activity.

Labels: facilitator, goals, Offsite meetings

  7:47 AM •  0 Comments •