Goals - Evaluation and Revision

Goals - Evaluation and Revision

When we look at goals, it's important to do some periodic check-ins for evaluation

Get a 
boost.

and, correspondingly, revision.  Chances of us either getting every single thing right, the first try out of the gate...or moving down the runway with nothing changing in the environment are exceedingly low.  For example, you may have set a goal to get out into nature more often with corresponding milestones of miles hiked, new trails explored, nights in a tent, and so forth.  Then, partway through that period of time or season of life, say you switched jobs, or moved to the city, or something else.  It's important to go back and evaluate and revise the goal periodically instead of abandoning it outright.  Perhaps now it looks like walking around the neighborhood streets, park hopping with the kids, trying out the new splash park or state park, or backyard camping.  

Ask why you 
missed.

In the first responder disciplines and military, there's a routinized process of After Action Review - Improvement Plan (AAR-IP) that helps guide continuous improvement.  At some level, it starts with the "hotwash" or "tailboard" session where those immediately involved reflect on what was supposed to happen, what did happen, and what we'd do differently next time.  It often is aimed at the "tactical level" of a thing...but could be directed more strategically.  Over time, the "IP" part of the process generates a bit of trend analysis and corresponding corrective actions so that we hopefully don't make the same mistakes twice.  In doing an intentional conversation, we can determine if our goals are still the right ones...and if we're still on track...or if we should change course, investment, or move on.  Through practice, we can use the same principle with our family.  After a vacation...do an AAR.  After a season of life (say, pre-school years), do an AAR on what we learned that can inspire more or better with early elementary.  Wrapping up a job...what can we take to the new one?  Selling a house...what did we learn to make the next home buying/renting experience smoother?  

Bring a posse.

Sometimes, we'd have to cut our losses and say enough is enough.  The old saying, "don't throw good money after bad," is not wrong.  At some point, despite our best efforts or at least a solid try, we realize the goal is wrong or unattainable.  In some cases, even if it's unattainable, meaningful action in the right direction is still the right answer.  Other times, it's time to fold it up and pack it in.  We had a brief run at a training company focused on personal survival.  In the initial months, we'd come up with a logo, website, a few training classes, and so forth.  As we got close to the "go-live" moment, I think we both realized the reality would be that we'd be spending our weekends with other people...not necessarily our loved ones.  Sure, we'd be doing cool things, learning neat stuff, helping others...but ultimately, missing the forest for the trees.  That project is now shelved...maybe for this season of life...maybe forever.  And that's okay.  

Work together.

Another way to look at the evaluation and revision is to try to make your goal progress more objective.  We can write our own rubric with corresponding numeric or grade criteria like an A-B-C-D-F that allows us to define what good, better, best looks like...and more importantly, rank ourselves and our progress.  The old "A for effort" can apply here as we give ourselves a score for both the effort/investment and the actual results.  This is an important step that allows us to better direct future efforts if we're not where we want to be.  

Ask why...5 times.

We've talked a bit about the 5 Whys of Root Cause analysis in the past, but it's important to solve the right problem if we're trying to move the needle.  When we work on goals and our periodic revision, it's important to look carefully at the "why" and perhaps the deeper level "whys" as to the root causes leading us to miss.  By digging a little deeper, we can apply the right solutions to the right problems - perhaps it was the wrong goal in the first place?  Perhaps we need more time?  Money?  Investment?  Less of something else?  Perhaps we need to rewrite or extend the timeframe?  The point is...without introspection and evaluation, we can end up "throwing good money after bad" (but substitute money for time, energy, resources, investment, etc).  

Look back at the early days,
the progress will amaze you.

Lastly, when we're setting goals...or evaluating them, considering and defining "what is a win" is an important step.  The minimum viable product (MVP), initial operating capability (IOC) are important considerations when it comes to a goal.  We may be able to prototype or beta test some scaled version of the thing we're after.  If we're happy with the results and trajectory, we can add additional time, energy, and investment to "big size it" as we move forward.  Take a small business for example, let's say we want to flip a house...perhaps we start with volunteering for Habitat for Humanity, building a shed or tree house in your backyard, or helping a friend finish their basement.  If we decide that we're heading in the right direction, we can then do our flip business...without some of the potential gravity of a big consequence looming over our head.  

The team matters most.

As we wrap up, the beginning of a goal is critical...so is the middle and the end.  When you're setting out with your goal process and eventual systems, make sure that you have periodic check-ins with yourself and your loved ones to make sure that the progress and the results you're achieving are worth what you're having to put into it.  No use getting to the top of the ladder only to realize too late it was leaning on the building...or perhaps worse yet, get halfway up the ladder and just sit there forever.  

With you in the arena, from ours to yours...Happy Trails!

Call to Action: 

• Pick out a couple of goals you've been working on that have stagnated or stalled out...now list three deep whys to get to the root cause of what caused you to stumble.  
• 1 - ___________________ 
• 2 - ___________________
• 3 - ___________________
• Discussion: Consider what you/your family could/would/should (level of commitment) and start/stop/sustain (action) to help each other be more successful with goals moving forward.  

Further Reading, Motivation, and References:

- AAR-IP Process from FEMA