THOUGHTS ON LEADERSHIP #6 - SET REALISTIC GOALS.

This is critically important as you progress in your growth as a leader. Whether it be in a business setting or in your personal life, you must set realistic goals. As I revealed in Episode # 4, many years ago my goal was to win at all costs, maximum effort. 

We have all experienced situations where others set goals that are sometimes not realistic, and they are looking to you to come through. Typically, you know right away there are barriers to completion. Whether it be a lack of context, limited resources, lack of clarity of the desired deliverable, taking on a project that is not realistically achievable is not in anyone's best interest. I have learned that you must ask for and, in some cases demand that the goal given to you and your team is realistically achievable.

No one wants to work for a leader who walks into a meeting and says, "I want this by Friday." No context, no discussion, just an ultimatum. Your team is thinking: "I don't have the resources I need, the access to data or information and, I'm off the next two days and you approved it."  There will be times when a situation exists where something must be completed (Episode #3). If that is the case, it's your job to understand the task, find the resources, or maybe actually step in and do some of the work yourself. This is where you must understand what is going on with everyone on your team, where everybody's mindset is (Episode # 1). 

I used to have a very informal team meeting every Monday morning. It was interactive and usually started with what we did over the weekend. That type of gathering accomplished a couple things: It helped me know where my people's heads were that week and, what they were mentally, emotionally, and physically capable of. 

After we shared, I would ask: "What do you need from me this week?" I shared my priorities for the week, my travel and meeting schedule. This is all about setting realistic goals. Unless they understood what my goals were for the week, my priorities, my availability, they couldn't possibly accomplish the goals that have been asked of them. We break the huddle, and everyone knows their role and feels confident in their ability to complete the task.

If you set realistic goals for your team, you will accomplish more and demonstrate leadership skills they can use.