We’ve officially started our annual planning for the new year.
The process is relatively straightforward. We start by deciding what the company’s three highest priority goals are. With those goals as the base, each department (and manager) creates a big three representing what they can do to reach the company’s big three. From there, we dive into quarterly rocks, SMARTs (goals that are specific, measurable, actionable, relevant, and timed), and the explicit tactical steps it will take to accomplish what we set out to achieve.
The meetings are going well. There is a lot of back-and-forth idea sharing, negotiating, and priority setting.
Nonetheless, I had a sneaking suspicion that sometimes what seemed like a dialogue was really multiple monologues.
The reason for the disconnect (or misconnect) was that the participants had fundamental beliefs, at a higher level than we were discussing, that were at odds with each other.
With that said, another important component of meaningful communication is a shared understanding of a common language. Words can mean different things to different people. Simply agreeing on a “word” is different than agreeing on a common meaning.
I shot two videos that I think help teams get to alignment.
Thinking About Your Thinking
The first video discusses several techniques to enhance your decision-making.
One of the ideas is something called “Think, Feel, Know.” Basically, it explains that you have to deal with superficial thoughts before getting to deeper feelings. Then, you must deal with those feelings before you get to “knowing”.
Another technique discussed in the video involves adding time to look for “insights” after working on something. Those insights are often the seeds for something greater.
Chunking Higher
The second video explains how to chunk high enough to start from a place of agreement. Exploring distinctions from there is relatively easy.
I’m a big fan of picking a Big Hairy Audacious Goal (sometimes called a “BHAG”) and taking actions that move you in that direction.
One of the keys to this is chunking high enough to name the roles, goals, and strategies you select with timeless language (meaning that the target words hold up even as you pivot and adjust your focus and actions).
While doing this, I realized that my ideal next chunk of years involves taking Capitalogix to the next level (and beyond) through collaboration, cooperation, and joint ventures.
Once you know your long-term goal, planning the steps you need to achieve it is relatively easy. Achieving smaller goals reinforces successes, builds momentum, and makes continued progress feel more likely.
Extra points if you make them SMARTs (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-Bound).
Actions speak louder than words, and your words can distract you.
It’s OK to misstep, and it’s OK to get stuck - but recognize where you are and what you’ve done ... and move forward.
Delayed gratification happens when you want something badly but cannot get it right away. The result is often anger or frustration.
Meanwhile, the mainstream media broadcasts a seemingly non-stop stream of messages screaming for immediate attention and gratification. The result of that is not good either (for example, it can result in higher rates of obesity, drug abuse, and depression).
Don’t be fooled. Overnight successes are rarely actually overnight successes (for long).
To summarize these concepts:
- Make sure you have a common language
- Begin with the end in mind
- Start with the highest level of agreement
- Make distinctions from there
Hope that helps.
Over the next 25 years, there are many people I want to impact – and many goals I want to accomplish.
It hasn’t always been easy - but building Capitalogix has been an intensely rewarding passion. It has been easier because I want what I want. Make sure you know what you really want ... it makes getting it much easier.
I look forward to you all being a part of it as well. Here’s to a successful 2025 and an even more successful 2050.
