Meaning and Goals

In the past weeks I wrote about some extra Soft Skills a typical decider should develop, use and have an eye on during the decision process.

Today I point my finger on something else which matters when we´re up to making a tough decision:
it´s the meaning it has for us and the alignment to the goal we´re facing.

MEANING:  is connected to a relationship or to (personal) value. It expresses importance to us.  Meaning is connected to a certain importance for us or the company.

GOAL:  is a condition or state which today resides in the future.  The state is yet not here, it´s not reached. There are things to do to get there. In terms of decisions, it´s the consequences and trade-offs  we have to deal with while marching towards the goal. Reaching a new goal is getting another piece of the pie.

We do live in a time of abundance, today in the 21st Century, and there are many free give-aways.  Those give-aways might make it a bit easier to go along the way towards the goal, like a studentship or a cost-free year paid by a sponsor. It could be a win from a radio-station, which is taking over the gas-bills for 12 months. Still, you have to go and visit the customers with the car, investing time, developing your communication skills, extending your work experience. Work remains.

MEANING and GOALS both is something you simply cannot pay for!
You should know both well.  Different cultures and countries teach their folks the meaning of special pictures or symbols. Things we cannot transform into a picture, might be connected to our heart – then a certain value or importance is connected to a meaning. Meaning matters most within family and smaller company decisions.
It´s different in Corporations where employees mostly don´t know each other.  There, meaning is often put into a corner while the goal is placed in front of everybody.

At the end of the day, at the end of the month, at the end of the year, when you work towards the GOAL, it´s up to the MEANING whether you work hard on reaching it – or not.
Working hard on a goal is evident to making a decision (option) come true!  MEANING helps getting the pressure off the hard work.  Meaning makes it fun!

Do you check the MEANING when you work on your decision process?

BE A DECISION MAKER. BECOME OUTSTANDING.

rita jaskolla – Leadership Architect –