Three Tests For Goals

February 27th, 2009 Sean Murphy

Yesterday’s post talked about traction as the ability to set and hit goals. I thought I would add some simple tests for what constitute useful goals in a startup.

1. Understandable by everyone on team.
2. Practical: are they feasible, perhaps with some stretching, from where you are today?
3. Measurable: not everything that counts can be counted, to quote Albert Einstein, but measurable goals make it easier for the team to align efforts and ensure that there is a real working agreement.

“A business should be run like an aquarium, where everybody can see what’s going on…That’s the only way to make sure that people understand what you’re doing, and why, and have some input into deciding where you are going. Then, when the unexpected happens, they know how to react and react quickly.” Jack Stack from page 72 of “The Great Game of Business“

See also

• Quotes on Operational Excellence 
• Idea to Revenue Workbook
• Measuring 2008 Goals

Entry Filed under: Rules of Thumb, skmurphy