Great leaders know how to make
ambitious goals look doable.

— John P. Kotter

I once watched a CEO give his Marketing Director a goal that was not only ambitious… it was unachievable.

The Marketing Director knew immediately the goal was impossible, especially without more resources. And so he failed... but not a year later when the numbers were in. Beginning right at that moment.

I believe leaders have great responsibilities in setting and giving out goals. Here are three: first, make the goals realistic and understandable; second, invest the time to help your people understand how to successfully meet them; and third, monitor and support them fully in doing so — not just at first, but throughout the entire year.

Doing these three things, according to John Kotter, are signs of a great leader... and are a very good strategy to make your organization grow.

Carl Francis
CFrancis@Envisian.com

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JOHN P. KOTTER IS A WORLD-RENOWNED AUTHORITY ON CHANGE AND LEADERSHIP

Kotter is Professor of Leadership Emeritus at the Harvard Business School; a New York Times best-selling author; chairman of Kotter International (a management consulting firm based in Seattle and Boston); and a well-known thought leader in the fields of business, leadership, and change.