The SmartCompany Olympics challenge: Javelin throw – Spear in on a problem area

Goals

Set some project specific goals using the SMART template. Ensure that you include time-bound accountabilities and that your goals are:

• Clear. Once the goal statement has been written, does it make sense? Would a stranger off the street, who knows nothing of your business, be clear about what you are trying to achieve? If not, keep clarifying until it is simple and clear.
• Agreement. Do you all agree/align 100% on this goal?

Identify tasks

Give each team member some post-it notes. Write one task per post-it and stick it to a chart. Keep going until all tasks have been exhausted. Then take some small dots (five each) and get team members to vote on the most important tasks to be actioned. Once the key tasks have been identified you can create a more detailed road map. Then prioritise the other tasks, delegate or delete as appropriate.

Identify road blocks and challenges

Brainstorm the challenges that the project/team may face. The purpose here is not to begin to solve these, but to capture them. This process will have all team members feel heard and encourage contribution. Some people focus on problems/ challenges, while others focus on the positives and the future. Both are equally important and you will have to face these effectively.

Success indicators

List the tangible factors that will indicate this has been successful, they can include: milestones, budget, team behaviours, buy in from the business (sponsors), and results.

On the podium

How will you celebrate/reward yourselves for hitting your target? And remember to have fun, visualise success and what that will mean to your team and business.

Enjoy the process and let us know how you get on.

Pollyanna Lenkic is the founder of Perspectives Coaching, an Australian-based coaching and training company. In 1990, she co-founded a specialist IT recruitment consultancy in London, which grew to employ 18 people and turnover £11 million ($27 million).