I didn’t really understand its usefulness, as I always used the sun, the direction of the current and the GPS on my mobile phone to find my way.
Until one dark and foggy afternoon I was far from the coast, the current was coming from several directions, the mobile phone was blocked and I didn’t know what to do or where to go, I started to be afraid, anxious, stressed (cortisol). Suddenly I saw the flickering of some lights and I remembered the headlights, it was in this situation of uncertainty, of lack of clarity that the headlight guided me to continue on my way.
Is there any relation with our daily work life?
The pressure makes us believe that the most important thing is to get moving and start work, “no time to waste”. At the beginning, there are not many problems and we can use clarity as a guide (use the sun), until uncertainty arrives: urgent requests, incidents, crossing of agendas, misunderstandings and change of priorities. This is when we feel the absence of clear objectives, of a lighthouse that, in the night or fog, lights the way and marks the route to success .
Direction and focus
Motivation and momentum
Teams will be able to direct their efforts to what really generates value with a clear vision of what they want to achieve.
Achieving goals generates a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, which motivates team members to keep striving and overcome challenges.
Measurement and continuous improvement
Measurable objectives allow you to measure progress and evaluate team performance, identifying areas for improvement and opportunities to optimise performance.
What should we consider to create a clear objective (a good lighthouse)?
- Involve the whole team.
- Use a tool such as OKR, KPI and others.
- Make sure the objectives are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound (SMART).
- Communication and visibility to all team members.
- Review and update objectives periodically.
- Celebrate achievements and learn from failures.
Clear objectives, being defined and achievable goals, provide the brain with a sense of order and purpose, activating areas related to motivation, planning and decision making. Otherwise, the “cerebral amygdala” is activated, which apart from blocking the analytical area of the brain, leads to the release of stress neurotransmitters.
Conclusions
Establishing clear objectives in a team is fundamental to navigate uncertainty successfully. Invest time in getting it clear and disseminated to the whole team. Objectives, like a lighthouse, will guide us through the storm.
