Sep 24, 2024
If I asked you where you see yourself in five years, could you give me a good answer? Or any answer at all?
Do you have a clear vision for your personal growth and the goals necessary to make it happen?
If the answer is no, don’t panic. It’s not the end of the world. But you do need to take the time to rectify that mistake and embrace strategic planning if you want to be in a different place going forward.
Many people think about personal visions and goals, but very few actually have them. Yet if you have one and focus on it often, you will ultimately steer your life toward obtaining it.
For years, I floated around with no real direction. I said I wanted to advance my career, get in shape, and be happier – but had no concrete plans to do so. That all changed, however, when I started doing intentional strategic planning for my life. Mapping out my vision, mission, and goals transformed everything for me personally. And the same can and should be true for organizations.
Without strategic planning, it’s far too easy to drift along aimlessly. But with a clear strategic plan, your business or nonprofit can thrive like never before. In this post, I’ll show what a total game-changer it is for both personal and organizational success.
So let’s dive in!
Let Yourself Dig Deep
Think of your vision as your compass, your GPS, or, my personal favorite metaphor, a lighthouse at the beach designed to lead you through the storms, past the rocky ocean waves toward your final destination. Regardless, it all begins with a basic but crucial question.
“What do I want?”
And don’t stop at a surface-level answer. Don’t go easy on yourself. What do you really, really, truly want for yourself? If you could have the kind of life that would make your heart sing, what would it look like?
At this point, your heart may be beating a bit faster at the very idea. And the doubts might be rising up fast. Can you really have that kind of life?
I believe you can. I’ve done it myself, and I’ve helped an ever-expanding number of clients lead passionate and fulfilling lives as well. Could you be the exception? Maybe. But you’ll never know if you don’t try. And, in my opinion, the rewards of success overwhelmingly outweigh the risks.
The Goals to Get There
Now let’s talk goals – the steps you need to take to get where you want to go, as outlined in your vision. As an example, here are some parts of my growth vision in the past, all in a given year:
- Start a business that will assist organizations in achieving high performance through their HR practices.
- Finish and publish another book.
- Grow my social media presence by 20%.
- Manage time more effectively to end my workday by 6 p.m. in order to spend more time with my wife.
- Spend quality time with my wife by planning two weekends away together.
- Do a five-night backpacking trip.
- Attend at least one in-person seminar or conference to further hone my skills or personal growth.
- Expand my prayer life by surrounding myself with prayer experts.
Hopefully that gives you an idea of where to start. If needed – and if nothing pops into your head right away – set aside time to dream about your ideal life. Even if you spend just five to 10 minutes a day on this project, ask yourself:
- What is my true relationship with God? Have I put my full trust in Him?
- If I could have more of something in my life, what would it be?
- What could I eliminate from my life for good?
- Which relationships do I need to nurture and/or which ones should I release?
- What is my relationship to money?
- What is my secret passion or dream?
- What am I most afraid of?
- What habits should I quit?
- What can I do to bring more joy into my daily life?
- What am I grateful for?
These questions are just a starting point. There are plenty of others to choose from. Take into account all major aspects of your life – your friends and family (both immediate and extended), church, charity work and, of course, fun and recreation. Also, examine your honest thoughts and assessments of your daily career, activities, spending habits, personal wellness and fitness, spirituality and, last but not least, your spouse.
Whatever goals you come to, you’ll want to like them. Really like them, in fact, since you’re going to be doing a lot of them!
This is particularly true about work-oriented goals. According to statistics from research firm Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development, the average American works 1,788 hours per year. Over 40 years, that adds up to over 71,000 hours!
Take a moment to let that staggering number sink in. It means you probably spend more time working than sleeping, eating, or participating in your favorite recreational activities throughout your life!
As such, I have to assume you’d prefer to enjoy the company you work for, no matter how long you’re with it. Longevity for employees is now increasing, with recent statistics showing people stay at their jobs an average of 4.6 years. While that’s nothing compared to the kind of commitment workers showed 50 years ago, it’s still a sizable fraction of an adult life.
This is why it’s so important to know exactly what you want to do before you start doing it: so you can end up in the most ideal situation possible. Beginning a career in a field you love and sticking with it can make all the difference in your future.
Let’s Talk About Your Voice
Now, in order to enjoy a career you love, you need to have, know, and exert your voice. A voice shapes the culture of an organization and serves as a guide to employees and management. All successful companies have one, and successful workers do as well.
Organizations with a well-thought-out voice have direction, purpose, and achievement in the workplace. They know where they want to be (the big picture) and do the appropriate things (the details) to get there. And every step of the way, employees who align with that voice enthusiastically project that message to customers, vendors, and their local communities. Otherwise, it’s impossible to align their goals and objectives to create success.
A person or organization’s voice is a combination of their personal mission, vision, and values. Values, of course, are the principles or standards you believe should be most upheld. But let’s dig into the other two more closely.
An organization’s (or person’s) mission statement is a concise, meaningful sentence or two that represents its purpose: the goal it strives to embody or provide for its consumers. Mission statements are often action-based, explaining the central objective at hand. For instance:
- LinkedIn: “to connect the world’s professionals to make them more productive and successful.”
- Amazon’s is to be “Earth’s most customer-centric company, Earth’s best employer, and Earth’s safest place to work.”
- Nike’s is to “bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete in the world.”
If you’re an individual, your personal mission statement would be similar in its straightforward style. It should define who you are as a person and identify your purpose, whether that’s on the job or simply in life. It’s supposed to explain where you see yourself in the future, how you plan to pursue that future, and why it matters so much to you.
Like an organizational mission statement, a personal mission statement should be clear and concise – a soundbite or quick elevator pitch, if you will. Something, perhaps, along the lines of: “To use my writing skills to inspire and educate others around the world to make a change.”
An organizational vision, meanwhile, is an ideal or model statement. While a mission statement defines the strategy for reaching a final goal, an organizational vision is that goal. It’s the world the company envisions for the future. Tesla, for instance, uses this: “To create the most compelling car company of the 21st century by driving the world’s transition to electric vehicles.”
Lastly, an organizational value statement defines what is important to a company and its employees. For instance: “We believe food has the power to change the world. We do it by being real.” Or, if a person was writing one, it would define the values most important to him or her, such as: “To be a respectable employee, friend, and member of the community, and to make a positive impact on others by being honest, fair, and reliable.”
Some other notable value statements to inspire you include Hobby Lobby’s, which reads: “Honoring the Lord in all we do by operating in a manner consistent with Biblical principles. Offering customers exceptional selection and value. Serving our employees and their families by establishing a work environment and company policies that build character, strengthen individuals and nurture families.”
And Interstate Batteries goes like this: “LOVE. Treat others like you’d want to be treated. SERVANT’S HEART. Lead with what people need. EXCELLENCE. Do great things with the gifts you’ve been given. COURAGE. Learn, improve and boldly drive change that matters. FUN. Work hard, laugh often. TEAM. Together, we’re better. INTEGRITY. Be who you are and live up to your commitments.”
All put together, your voice – composed of your mission, vision, and values – tells the world WHO you are, WHAT you believe, and WHERE you want to go. And though I’m emphasizing certain words in that last sentence, the “you” is equally important. No two people share the exact same voice.
Your voice is unique only to YOU.
As an organization, you can impress future customers by fine tuning this voice. As an individual, you can impress future employers. Either way, the intent should be to let recipients see who you are and what you want.
If this sounds intimidating to put together, fret not. You can begin by grabbing a piece of scratch paper and writing out your thoughts. Maybe start out scribbling a few adjectives that describe you best. Then think about what you value most.
Is it integrity? Reliability? Honesty? A combination of the three or something entirely different?
Lastly, determine what it is you really want and how you plan to get there. Where do you see yourself in five years? Ten years?
Don’t worry if you don’t have it all figured out, but this exercise can get you a lot further than you otherwise would be. By perfecting your unique voice, you will set yourself apart from the rest when it comes to competitive opportunities, big or small. After all, confident people and entities who truly understand themselves have a tendency of standing out in all the best ways.
Once you come up with your full voice, start reciting it to your friends and loved ones. Say it with confidence and a smile. By the time you land an interview at your desired company or find yourself in a boardroom convincing potential clients, you’ll have it down pat!
My Personal Strategic Planning Journey
If this all sounds like something you figured out a long time ago and therefore don’t need to do again, I hope you’ll take a moment to reconsider. Remember that you’re not the same man or woman you were 10 years ago or even 10 months ago. You’re changing, hopefully in good ways but sometimes negatively too, perhaps weighed down by past disappointments.
Therefore, reminding yourself of what you really care about can be exceptionally helpful.
Not long ago, I know I felt stuck. I wanted to make changes but didn’t know where to start. I had big dreams but no strategy to get there… until I rediscovered strategic planning. That changed everything!
Here are the steps that put me on an amazing new path:
- I wrote down my life vision. This captured where I wanted to be in five to 10 years. It was the dream-future state I envisioned. Defining this vision gave me hope and inspiration.
- I clarified my mission. This one-sentence personal mission statement explained my core purpose. It helped me make decisions aligned with my values. Now, my mission keeps me focused on what matters most.
- I set SMART goals. Using the methodology on this graphic for a S.M.A.R.T. framework, I set specific, measurable goals in key areas like career, health, and relationships. Breaking the vision down into concrete objectives was crucial.
- I documented plans and resources. For each goal, I wrote down how I’d achieve it and what resources I needed. Putting the plans on paper held me accountable.
- I told others. Sharing my plan with family and friends generated encouragement. Their support has been invaluable.
- I reviewed and adapted. I now make sure to revisit my strategic plan – often – to update and adjust it as needed. Regular reviews keep me on track.
In all of this, I take inspiration from Habakkuk 2:2-3 (NIV), which reads:
“Then the LORD replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false.”
God says to write things down on tablets. Writing goals is doing just that.
The results in my life have been nothing short of life changing. I’m healthier, happier, and feel much more fulfilled. I’m closer to my wife, advancing in my career, and making a bigger impact on the world.
For instance, prior to setting goals, I had never been on a mission trip. Since putting it down in clear, concise writing, I’ve traveled the world over, sharing Christ’s love through business and personal trips. I’ve been blessed to have served in Honduras, Nicaragua, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, India (from top to bottom!), Nepal, and Ukraine.
My fitness has also increased dramatically, allowing me to:
- Climb to the Mt. Everest Base Camp (17,598 ft)
- Climb Mt. Baldy in California (4,193 ft)
- Climb to the top of Mt. Bierstadt in Colorado (14,065 ft)
- Lead a team to summit Mt. Washington in New Hampshire (6,288 ft )
- Compete in a Sprint Triathlon.
And it doesn’t stop there. At the time of this writing, I’m planning to tackle Mt. Kilimanjaro (19,341 ft) in the spring of 2025.
Look what God has inspired me to do because I was willing to tap into who He created me to be! Moreover, in the midst of these accomplishments, I have an even bigger one to celebrate. My beautiful wife and I will be celebrating 40 years of marriage in 2026. Forty years since we said, “I do.”
It’s been an amazing journey, to say the least.
How did we do it? Well, I won’t go into all the details for brevity’s sake. But I can tell you the past decade has been especially momentous since we started setting goals together, and achieving them! We’ve been disciplined in maintaining that focus, making time for each other in both big and small ways for our benefit, the benefit of our children, and now our grandchildren as well.
All in all, strategic planning gave me a blueprint to get unstuck and live with purpose. And while I knew it would be worthwhile, the results have been better than I imagined, both in personal ways and in my career.
Energizing Teams Through Vision
I’ve been on both the employee side of the business equation and the employer side. And I can attest that it’s often hard to see the other’s perspective either way due to misunderstandings, miscommunications (or lack of any communication at all), and oversights.
Imagine you’re an employee showing up to work each day. You complete tasks as told but don’t know how it’s contributing to any larger goal or vision. Before long, boredom and disengagement set in, and you feel adrift in the organizational sea.
Unfortunately, this is the reality for too many workers. And it most often happens when their leaders haven’t mapped out an inspiring vision and steps to achieve it. It’s not until organizations engage in strategic planning that amazing things start to happen…
- Employees feel energized and motivated.
- They understand how their role builds up to big goals.
- They feel purpose and direction in their daily work.
“Research shows [that] organizations with a clear strategic vision have 29% higher employee engagement,” according to Business Insights, Why Is Strategic Planning Important? | HBS Online. By articulating an exciting vision of the future, leaders ignite their teams’ passion and performance.
Strategic planning also allows you to infuse the organization’s values into the planning process itself. This ensures alignment between actions and principles, and fosters a flourishing culture.
Long-term success of your organization depends on how engaged your employees are. A highly engaged staff can boost profitability by 21%, claims research firm Gallup. Or, as Kate Gibson writes in her Harvard Business Review article, The Role Core Values Play In Strategy Execution, “Core values are vital to strategy execution because they guide your organization and employees’ behavior.”
Essentially, people love being part of something bigger than a paycheck. And strategic planning provides greater meaning through an energizing vision and values-driven goals. When executed thoughtfully, it catalyzes your people’s purpose and potential, bringing them together.
By this, I mean that leaders can incorporate their teams into the strategic planning process instead of dictating plans in isolation. When a broad group participates, they take ownership of the plan together, giving them a shared enthusiasm and devotion to the collective mission.
Everyone emotionally buys in because they co-created the plan. It’s theirs to support instead of something foisted on them from the top.
Setting Your Eyes on Achievable Goals
Once you have all of this established, your next step should be to set goals. RASM goals, to be precise, where you make them:
- Realistic – Acknowledge constraints in areas like resources and capacity
- Achievable – Make sure you have the capability and commitment necessary.
- Strategic – The goal in question should always ladder up to your core strategy and mission.
- Measurable – Make sure you track progress quantitatively or qualitatively against the goal.
I often add a T to this acronym for Timebound. By assigning a specific timeline to each goal, you can prevent them from dragging on indefinitely. But even without that extra consideration, research confirms that organizations with strategic RASM planning are far more successful. The discipline to focus on concrete, achievable goals pays dividends.
So set aside fantasies of instant 10x growth or dominating the universe. Effective strategic planning grounds you in reality, which then helps you get to the next level you really want to reach.
Driving Efficiency through Prioritization
Speaking of fantasies, the unfortunate truth is that there are always more great opportunities than bandwidth and resources to pursue them. That’s why one of the most powerful benefits of strategic planning is the prioritization of what matters most.
Leaders must make tough choices about what not to pursue. Saying no to less critical initiatives and collectively agreeing on 3-5 goals that will have maximum impact frees up resources to achieve strategic goals. It:
- Directs funding, talent, and technology to enable those priorities
- Aligns the whole organization around the priorities
- Executes relentlessly on the strategic goals.
In Strategic Planning, S. Ghosal writes, “Research shows organizations that take this focused approach improve efficiency. Doing less but better is my point. By keeping the team focused and avoiding the “rabbit trail” projects that tend to pop up at every organization, you’re sure to accomplish so much more in the end.”
Of course, leaders must still consider other opportunities and challenges that inevitably emerge. But a clear strategic plan provides the filter to determine what deserves resources and what can wait.
The result is an empowering sense of focus and a rapid boost in productivity.
Enabling Clear Communication
All of this inspiration, productivity, and team spirit can only endure, however, if communication remains strong after planning concludes. Fortunately, strategic planning, done right, is supposed to handle this aspect as well, serving as a living document that drives ongoing alignment.
By clearly capturing goals, roles and responsibilities, assumptions, and progress, it reduces ambiguity and enables crisp communication and transparency around what matters most. It provides a single source of truth that keeps everyone aligned. And even as plans evolve, updated documentation maintains that unity of purpose and action.
Effective communication throughout the strategic planning lifecycle boosts organizational performance by 20%. Assuming communication occurs without documentation is a recipe for misalignment. So invest in it throughout and even after the strategic planning process. Keep the plan top of mind through constant reinforcement.
This pays enormous dividends – both in the moment and further down your organizational road. It’s not just the current project that gets impacted. Strategic planning is supposed to have lasting effects on everyone and every part of a business or non-profit. It helps align leadership and team members around the same priorities and resources, allowing them to act more quickly, rationally, and efficiently when conditions shift.
Moreover, it allows everyone involved to better anticipate future needs and help organizations get ahead of the curve with early hiring, budgeting, and capacity expansions.
Harvard Business Review writer Roger L. Martin, a former dean of the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto and strategy adviser to CEOs, advises that developing strategy means going outside of an organization’s comfort zone while still:
- Keeping the strategy statement simple
- Recognizing that strategy isn’t about perfection
- Making the logic explicit.
You will run into problems eventually. Those are inevitable. But you can make yourself stronger and smarter at handling those when you have your strategic plan properly thought out and in place.
Give It Time – and Commitment – to Make It Work
Whether you’re a corporation or individual, strategic planning can bring purpose and gravity back into your life. But you only reap those rewards if you approach the process with complete commitment.
The results are long-lasting but can also take a long time, a lot of effort, and even significant money to accomplish, especially in the beginning. We’ve examined why strategic planning is such an effective means of getting organizations where they want to go. But it’s also important to acknowledge that designing and implementing a strategic plan can seem like a daunting task, especially if you’ve never been through the exercise before.
Fortunately, if you work step by step, you can develop a robust strategic planning process that will last for years. Even decades! So let’s move on now to those all-important first steps for structuring your strategic planning journey.
I’ll show you how to make the process incredibly doable. In our next post we will be navigating bringing the strategic planning process to your organization, and the steps you will need to take to achieve high performance at your organization.
Want To Know Your Capabilities As A Leader?
For further actionable insights, reach out to In HIS Name HR right here. We help organizations build high-performance human resource programs designed to build your workplace into the engaging, effective, integrity-filled space you want it to be.
Contact us today! You and your employees will be grateful you did.
Mark A. Griffin | Blog, Christian Higher Ed HR, Human Resources, Kingdom Company Building
Sep 9, 2024
Let’s face it: We all know being a leader is tough.
That’s why it’s so crucial for leaders to understand their capabilities in relation to leadership competencies. There’s a lot going on in those areas, from directing teams to energizing them and accomplishing your goals – each of which can be a challenge.
I’ve found that breaking down leadership into a series of competencies can help extensively. That way, you can think of each skill as its own separate task, making developing each one easier.
Here’s a look at the 10 key competencies of outstanding leaders… along with tips for you to excel in them no matter your field!
Leadership
This first competency might seem like an obvious and even all-encompassing aspect of being a leader, but hear me out. Developing all the other competencies we cover requires authentic leadership. Team members won’t believe in your vision until they conclude that you’re worth following.
That begins with proper communication. The best communicators explain their ideas with power and conviction. They speak to overarching organizational objectives and primary strategic priorities. And they articulate how each person’s work cascades up to higher-level goals.
When priorities are clear, teams can really buy in.
Great leaders also bolster morale through hard work, modeling how they want their teams to behave. They roll up their sleeves to show what they want the rest to do, raising everyone else’s energy levels by personally demonstrating diligence, focus, and persistence.
Or, to use the definition we use at IHN HR, leaders show everyone else how to “deliver on the mission, achieve the vision, and reflect the organization’s values.”
Delegation
From there, you should understand the importance of delegation to leadership success. Don’t try to do it all yourself; instead, assign tasks to the people best-suited to handle them.
Effective delegation begins with putting people in jobs they can do, so carefully consider each team members’ capabilities. Do they have what it takes to get a particular task done?
For those who can handle more, give them stretch assignments: projects or accounts with a bit more complexity. The employees who can do these without problems or mistakes should be developed further and rewarded appropriately since their chances of success are high.
This isn’t playing favorites; it’s playing to people’s strengths.
In thinking about who can complete a task, think about treating people like people. They’re individuals capable of handling appropriately assigned tasks, so be careful not to overwhelm them while also seeking to avoid automatically limiting them. Learning can and should happen at any time for any one person, irrespective of their experience.
Good delegation allows employees to thrive and often includes using tools to discover their strengths. When you do that and act accordingly, everyone wins.
Finally, go in with a clear intent; people respect leaders who avoid ambiguity. Set goals for when you expect someone to do something. Fully contextualize the work by stating what you’re trying to achieve and what the desired outcome will be. Be specific about the requirements for the task, at what point it’s considered complete, and how you’ll evaluate successful performance.
As we say at IHN HR, delegation means assigning “tasks and responsibilities to the appropriate team members”… and with the clearest instructions possible.
Professional Maturity
Professional composure might not be the easiest state to achieve, but it is a hallmark of mature leaders. The best of the best learn to keep cool with the chaos. They think calmly and clearly before reacting, refusing to take things personally even when that’s the natural human reaction.
Keeping cool in the face of fire helps to keep teams steady.
Great leaders are also active about checking their biases. They use appropriate language, base their decisions on data, and actively seek out diverse viewpoints.
At our firm, we define professional maturity as “interacting with people in a manner that reflects the values of the organization and cultural norms.”
Administration
Leaders should “systematize” additional activities. For example, if employees have to perform the same task repeatedly, managers should help develop protocols and workflows for it.
Documenting routines helps minimize employee error and confusion, especially when employees change and workers have to pick up where others have left off. Yet the majority of organizations don’t implement this strategy. And without basic working instructions or standard operating procedures, they run the risk of never improving.
Since the best leaders are always looking for ways to improve, they provide central access to templates, manuals, databases, and shared drives so workers can easily find what they need to do their jobs. Organized systems don’t waste time by forcing employees or underlings to find what they need.
This includes by way of available advancements. Leaders should always look to leverage technology to speed up manual processes, such as scheduling apps, task-trackers, file-sharing programs, and so on. A well-chosen tool can minimize waste in your work process.
At IHN HR we define administration as “having effective systems in place to manage workflow and projects.”
Training
Investment in employee training is also part of the leader’s role. The best leaders invest their valuable time in helping their team develop important skills by getting them ready for their tasks as early in the project process as possible.
Admittedly, not everyone enjoys these activities. So to make learning engaging for everyone involved, vary your approach. Use presentations, manuals, videos, and coaching. Provide materials that cater to different learning styles. Allow people to preview your expectations for them, and make it as hands-on an experience as you can.
And remember: Good-quality programs give context. Let trainees practice or simulate what they’re expected to do to prime their skills and build their confidence.
At IHN HR, we define training as “providing direct instruction or appropriate resources to impart information.”
Mentorship
Besides formal training, strong leaders seek to mentor emerging talent by offering one-on-one development support. High-performing organizations invest heavily in mentorship programs; consider doing the same for your employees.
Regardless, you can accelerate high-potential team members’ development by leveraging your own experiences and encouraging authenticity. Find out their strengths, interests, and opportunities for growth. What are their preferred learning styles? Where do they want to see themselves in five years?
Even better, put a system in place for mentor and mentee check-ins. Consistency provides continuity, and processes offer the flexibility to respond to changing needs. But also let your mentee know you’re available for in-the-moment questions.
At IHN HR, we define mentorship as “developing people by sharing their expertise, experience, and influence for the purpose of learning and growth.”
Communication
Leadership is about communication. And in order to be heard, you have to know your audience, use the right medium, and constantly seek feedback.
We advise first considering the communication styles (e.g., formality, preferences for email or phone) and terminology (e.g., vocabulary, level of detail, and depth) that are appropriate in various departments and functions. You need to understand your audience and tailor your message to fit specific recipients.
Also, keep in mind the timing of your messages. And be purposeful in your choice of communication channel. You can make broad announcements via email, but avoid sending other kinds of messages that contain sensitive material.
Try to match the medium to the meaning. Texts may attract more attention, but use them sparingly. The urgency diminishes with use.
At IHN HR, we define effective communication as “written and verbal communication that’s timely and effective with an appropriate tone.
Team Environment
Leaders shape the team’s culture by facilitating interaction between members, allowing them to bring out the best in each other. The deeper the team members’ camaraderie and engagement, the higher their satisfaction and performance.
Begin with bonding. Off-site team building and leadership development programs can do wonders. Getting people away from their desks and participating in fun activities can go far in creating stronger relationships. And if you can incorporate activities that address differences in personalities and strengths, that’s even better.
Trust improves with personal connections.
Collectively develop rules for openness, debate, and conflict resolution. And encourage respect for each other even during disagreements.
At IHN HR, we define the ideal team environment as “a culture that unifies a high-performance team to effectively deliver on their goals.”
Approachability
Leaders should also be approachable, encouraging their followers to seek them out with questions and concerns. Maintaining an open-door policy in the office, setting aside regular office hours for impromptu visits, and/or keeping instant messaging open for remote teams demonstrates your presence and accessibility to your followers.
In addition, make clear the best persons or groups to contact about any given issue and how best to reach them – whether email, chat, phone, etc. Be clear about expected response times, and consistently state your routine response process so that employees know they can rely on you.
Finally, pay attention when speaking to others. Listen carefully, and let the other person finish before you speak. Maintain eye contact, keep an open body posture, and minimize any signals that suggest you’re not interested.
- Set specific S.M.A.R.T. goals: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time bound.
- Plan thoroughly. Delineate all the steps, actors, resources, and contingencies. No surprises.
- Agree on the measures. Agree on what will be measured and how the measures will be reported, ensuring they’re as quantitative as possible.
- Break down long-term goals. Divide larger goals into smaller ones. Maintain motivation with checkpoints.
- Be flexible; change timetables or plans if called for, but if you stay on track, that’s discipline enough. Gravity and grace balance each other.
- Treasure your wins. Celebrate each victory as you head toward your goal. Count the wins.
We believe that S.M.A.R.T. goals not only improve the lives of employees but also contribute to the success and longevity of the organization they’re designed for.
At IHN HR, we define approachability as “being available for questions, instructions, and input (i.e., open-door policy).”
Execution
Of course, all of this leads to execution. At the end of the day, the key to leadership is getting things done efficiently and effectively.
Here are some tips for effective leadership execution:
Lead With Confidence
If that seems like a very long and even daunting list, don’t feel overwhelmed. Rather, focus on just one or two competencies per quarter and work to enhance those areas. Then make sure to regularly review your progress.
Over time, these capabilities compound to make you the inspirational leader your team needs.
Want To Know Your Capabilities As A Leader?
______________
For further actionable insights, reach out to In HIS Name HR right here. We help organizations build high-performance human resource programs designed to build your workplace into the engaging, effective, integrity-filled space you want it to be.
Contact us today! You and your employees will be grateful you did.
Mark A. Griffin | Blog, Christian Higher Ed HR, Human Resources, Kingdom Company Building
Jun 11, 2024
CEOs and other high-level executives have a higher rate of burnout than the general workforce. And considering their long list of responsibilities, that makes sense.
We all know the airline safety advice to put your own oxygen mask on before assisting others. It’s a concept that applies just as well to leadership as flying the friendly skies. Yet it can feel impossible to find that kind of time outside the non-stop juggling acts, plate spinning, and balancing games.
If that’s how you feel, here’s a thought you should consider: What if the key isn’t balance at all, but integration?
Meet Mike Sharrow, CEO and president of C12 Business Forums. He and his team help CEOs build great businesses under a “Business as a Ministry” model. Based in San Antonio, Texas, they support a global force of 200 full-time C12 chairs who serve over 4,100 Christian CEOs, owners, and executives across four continents.
Mike has years of both business and pastoral experience, including scaling up a managed care subsidiary of Walgreens, leading a startup financial planning business, pastoring a local church, and starting multiple NGOs. He also served as a C12 chair in the San Antonio and Austin markets, serving over 130 leaders through monthly peer advisory groups.
Listen in as Mike and host Mark Griffin discuss a model for faithfulness and flourishing that allows executives to unlock an abundant life. Learn how to foster thriving workplace environments by assisting your leaders in achieving high performance. Discover frameworks and guiding concepts that can enable higher levels of employee engagement and productivity, corporate performance, and overall enthusiasm in any industry.
Concerned about the HR programs at your organization? The benefits of having a trusted partner to guide you and your team to excellence are invaluable. Contact us today. You—and your employees—will be glad you did.
Rise with us by implementing our high-performance remote human-resource programs to help find great people! E-mail us here.
Mark A. Griffin is president and founder of In HIS Name HR LLC. Connect with him on LinkedIn and Twitter
Mark A. Griffin | Christian Higher Ed HR, Human Resources, Podcasts
Jun 4, 2024
The American Bible Society helps people experience God through the Bible. With partners around the world, they help translate the Bible, distribute the Bible, engage people with the Bible, and advocate for the Bible’s message of hope here in America and globally.
Through the Church and a global network of local Bible societies, ABS carries the gospel message where it is needed most. Research and experience tell us the Bible makes us more generous, more compassionate, more loving toward our neighbors, and more hopeful about our future in Christ.
That’s why their mission since 1816 has been to help all people experience the life-changing message of God’s Word.
Meet Jennifer Holloran, president and CEO of the American Bible Society. Jennifer is passionate about ensuring her organization exceeds expectations. In this episode of Encouragement for Work, learn how to Use Your Manual to Align Your Leadership with the Word of God. Listen in as you learn these three keys to organizational leadership success.
- Know Your Role as Aligner
As the leader of your organization, God has placed you in a position of responsibility to align the direction of your organization with God’s will. As followers of Christ, we do not work from the assumption that we know best.
Proverbs 3:5-6 GNT: Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know. Remember the Lord in everything you do, and he will show you the right way.
Where do we start? Surrendering our own desires for the future to Him. Then, discerning His will and conforming yourselves and our organizations to it.
James 4:13-15 GNT: Now listen to me, you that say, “Today or tomorrow we will travel to a certain city, where we will stay a year and go into business and make a lot of money.” You don’t even know what your life tomorrow will be! You are like a puff of smoke, which appears for a moment and then disappears. What you should say is this: “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.”
Romans 12:2 GNT: Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God – what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect.
- Know Your Role as Shepherd
As the leader of your organization, God has given you responsibility to care for a certain portion of His flock – those who work under your leadership, but also those who are beneficiaries of the work that your organization does. God’s Word provides clear direction about what it means (and what it doesn’t mean) to serve in a shepherding role.
Mark 10:42-45 GNT: So Jesus called them all together to him and said, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the heathen have power over them, and the leaders have complete authority. This, however, is not the way it is among you. If one of you wants to be great, you must be the servant of the rest, and if one of you wants to be first, you must be the slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served; he came to serve and to give his life to redeem many people.
In fact, the Bible breaks it down even further for us:
1 Peter 5:1b-4 GNT: I appeal to you to be shepherds of the flock that God gave you and to take care of it willingly, as God wants you to, and not unwillingly. Do your work, not for mere pay, but from a real desire to serve. Do not try to rule over those who have been put in your care, but be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the glorious crown which will never lost its brightness.
- Know Your Role as Chief Steward
Finally, as leaders, God has given us an important responsibility of stewardship for all that has been entrusted to us. We will be held accountable for how we steward our organizations and the resources God has given us. Matthew 25 illustrates how that wonderful that accountability can be when we are faithful:
Matthew 25:21 GNT: ‘Well done, you good and faithful servant!’ said his master. ‘You have been faithful in managing small accounts, so I will put you in charge of large amounts. Come on in and share my happiness!’
Matthew also shows us what happens when we are not faithful:
Matthew 25:26-28 GNT: ‘You bad and lazy servant!’ his master said. ‘You knew, did you, that I reap harvests where I did not plant, and gather crops where I did not scatter seed? Well, then, you should have deposited my money in the bank, and I would have received it all back with interest when I returned. Now, take the money away from him and give it to the one who has ten thousand coins.’
The bottom line if we want to be good stewards?
Luke 12:42-43 GNT: The Lord answered, “Who, then, is the faithful and wise servant? He is the one that his master will put in charge, to run the household and give the other servants their share of the food at the proper time. How happy that servant is if his master finds him doing this when he comes home!
The Bible has even more incredible wisdom to shape how we lead, if we will take the time to use the manual we’ve been given. When we align our leadership with the Word of God, we have put ourselves on the path to true effectiveness and satisfaction of a job well done.
Learn more about HR best practices as Mark interviews Jennifer about emerging HR practices post-pandemic, helping you to develop high performance in the workplace.
Concerned about the HR programs at your organization? The benefits of having a trusted partner to guide you and your team to excellence are invaluable. Contact us today. You—and your employees—will be glad you did.
Rise with us by implementing our high-performance remote human-resource programs to help find great people! E-mail us here.
Mark A. Griffin is president and founder of In HIS Name HR LLC. Connect with him on LinkedIn and Twitter
Mark A. Griffin | Christian Higher Ed HR, Human Resources, Podcasts
Oct 12, 2020
Jeremiah 29:11(NIV) 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
I believe that, in today’s tumultuous times, we must remain diligent in our obligations as Christian leaders. Now, more than ever, Christian leaders must acknowledge that employees want, need and crave an environment in which they can be not only productive but trust that their leadership is attempting to provide them and their family stability, a “hope and a future.”
We must remain diligent in our obligations as Christian leaders.
So what about you? What are you doing to demonstrate to your employees that you are setting the foundation for tomorrow’s growth? Are you giving them hope and a future? If you do this, if you honor your employees by properly managing your organization and lighting a path to their future, you will be creating a “Kingdom Minded” organization.”
What have you witnessed in your workplace that has created a culture of creativity, inclusiveness and productivity? Please share your thoughts and help our community learn from your experiences.
Mark A. Griffin | Blog, Christian Higher Ed HR, Inspiration
Mar 6, 2019
Yes, it’s possible for you to lead employees to excellence at work, home and in their communities.
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. ~Ephesians 2:10
A valuable part of leading sustainable for-profit organizations is introducing your employees to community relations. Part of leading people is developing them to be the best they can be, not only in the workplace but within their families and communities as well.
Look at your people from a whole person perspective—they’re far more than just “workers.” Provide your people the opportunity to do good works, to achieve greatness in their lives, and they will do great things for you. Developing your people’s skills, both in and outside the company, can positively impact the communities in which they live and you do business.
Encourage your people to be their best in every aspect of their lives.
Many organizations now put programs in place that help match employees’ interests to community volunteer opportunities. Some organizations shut down for an entire week to help build homes with Habitat for Humanity, for example. What do you do? What more can you do?
Imagine an organization that inspired their people by running a contest where each employee participated by demonstrating how their volunteer organization is the most impactful. The prize? The winner would receive a considerable reward to help fund their efforts. This article provides a great deal of information on what Elexio has done to encourage employees to look far outside their own communities.
If you are promoting good works performed by your employees, not only in the workplace but also in the world we live in, you are doing great things for God. You are building a “Kingdom-Minded” Organization.
Help our community of readers
Do you have HR practices that support these ideals? Do you help your employees help others? How do you find your employees’ strengths and match them to community involvement? Share your ideas and inspire fellow readers. We would love to know how you encourage your people to shine.
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Mark Griffin is founder and Chief Consultant at In His Name HR LLC. He has over 20 years of HR experience. You can learn more about his recently published book for College Students, College to Career: The Student Guide to Career and Life Navigation HERE. Follow Mark on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
Mark A. Griffin | Christian Higher Ed HR, Human Resources, Kingdom Company Building
Jun 6, 2018
Why are people leaving your organization?
My client’s eyes glazed over when I asked her this. She didn’t know why more than 13 percent of her workforce left every year – and hadn’t even thought about figuring out the reasons.
In my experience, most organizations fail to document why people leave.
If they do conduct exit interviews, they often don’t probe deeply enough. Or, they fail to effectively learn from their findings and implement change for the better.
How to Keep People
According to The Wall Street Journal, by the time a talented worker has decided to leave, it’s probably too late to make the necessary improvements to keep them. But, finding out why people aren’t staying with your organization is critical to your future success, especially in tough economic times.
Keeping competent employees is one of the best ways to save your organization a lot of money and keep a cohesive and healthy workplace culture. The high cost of hiring and training employees warrants that you learn from what isn’t working, every time.
There are several reasons why people leave. In previous articles we have discussed many. One area that continues to gain attention is organizational vision or lack thereof. Make sure your vision is properly integrated within your HR programs. Employees need to be part of it and understand where you are going. A recent article from Barnard Marr on CNBC.com cites “No Vision” as being a leading cause of turnover. I agree. Most employees want a hope and a future and a great vision that is bought in by all helps create energy in the workplace.
So, appreciate the rich source of information that a good exit interview brings!
A good exit interview finds out these three (3) things:
- What the work climate is really like?
- Whether and how are your managers are failing.
- What’s missing?
Do your employees get what they really need to do well? If people are leaving too frequently, it’s time to find out why.
Make sure your exit interview includes these three (3) questions:
- When did you realize you wanted to leave?
- Did you and your manager set goals and objectives together?
- How often did you receive helpful feedback from your leadership?
Ending Well
First, conduct your exit interview with a spirit of grace and graciousness. Your concern and honest inquiry into the reasons your employee is leaving will yield valuable insights if you put them at ease. This is where your core values come in.
Second, remember to set up an exit interview at a time designed to give you the best information. Don’t rush in at the last minute, just before your employee’s departure, or try to get information after they’ve already moved on.
Finally, wish the employee well in their new endeavor. At some point, they may want to come back. If they feel cared for during this last important experience, they will know that the door is still open. Losing a talented employee is disappointing, but it might be redeemed if they happily return in the future.
Have you used exit interviewing before? Please take a few moments and tell our community of readers your experience.
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In His Name HR helps organizations build high performance Human Resources programs. Visit them at In HIS Name HR or e-mail them here.
Mark A. Griffin is the founder and chief consultant of In His Name HR LLC. Connect with him on LinkedIn or Twitter.
Mark A. Griffin | Blog, Christian Higher Ed HR
May 9, 2018
The economy has been changing rapidly over the past several months. Now more than ever employees are starting to look at their career options. Turnover issues transcend all profit and non profit organizations.
In my 25-plus-year career in human resources, I’ve noticed that, while people will endure fewer amenities and less pay, there are three reasons skillful workers will leave to another job:
(1) No progress
When employees sense no potential for career progress, or leaders are unaware that advancement is important, they look for better options.
(2) Feeling unappreciated
When employees receive little or no gratitude for their contributions, it’s demoralizing — they seek more rewarding work elsewhere. The biggest surprise? Many times, during exit interviews, departing employees disclose that a simple, verbal “thank you” would have made them feel sufficiently appreciated.
(3) Sheer Boredom
Without savvy leaders or a solid idea of the big picture (Vision), employees don’t see concrete, interesting ways to contribute outside of the ordinary scope of their jobs. Things grow tedious and employees hunt for new challenges to make work feel more meaningful.
So, while you might think your employees desire high pay, a corner office, or a cushy benefits package, the truth is that the best employees are satisfied with simpler, more personal benefits.
Be thoughtful — find out what motivates your employees! This simple investment will ensure improved worker retention, enhanced overall morale, and increased organizational loyalty. And isn’t that what you really want?
Action Steps
What can you do as an employer right now to keep your best employees? This article provides some great ideas.
One more thing…what’s the Surprising New Reason People Quit?
Forbes magazine reveals a new reason spiking among employees who quit:
The Final Reason (4) – Not enough flexibility for work-life balance
Not long ago this reason primarily concerned mothers, but now both men and women will leave pay increases and promotions behind to have a manageable work schedule that doesn’t crowd out the rest of life.
Keep in mind that, as a new generation of workers comes of age and/or starts having children, many will value fulfilling connections with family and friends above a full workload. Climbing the workplace ladder is simply not as important to young workers today as in prior generations. Many are talented and capable, but will choose a desirable work-life balance over monetary or organizational rewards.
So, if you are concerned with retaining talented employees while also saving time and money in hiring and training costs, remember these Top 4 Reasons and the new trend that makes talented people quit. It could make keeping great people you need much easier.
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In His Name HR helps organizations build high performance Human Resources programs. Visit them at In HIS Name HR or e-mail them here.
Mark A. Griffin is the founder and chief consultant of In His Name HR LLC. Connect with him on LinkedIn or Twitter.
Mark A. Griffin | Blog, Christian Higher Ed HR
Feb 27, 2018
Today, we build on the two previous posts, on creating Mission and Vision Statements by discussing Core Values and creating your organization’s Value Statement, which completes the triad.
When organizations desire to perform at the highest level, they leverage three (3) commitments—three commitments that set the stage for overall efficiency, growth, and prosperity.
Core Values focus on how you run your organization and interact with customers and suppliers. Not everyone possesses the same core values, so it’s important for an organization to stress what theirs are to employees, vendors, and customers at the onset of hiring, doing business, or providing a service.
Take this example: Facebook started out in a dorm room and, in just ten years, grew to having 1.23 billion monthly users, about one-sixth of the entire world’s population. To celebrate that accomplishment, Mark Zuckerberg expressed how a Core Value guided them along the way:
“…We just cared more about connecting the world than anyone else. And we still do today.”
With its expressed Value of caring, Facebook is guided toward their vision and mission of accomplishing bigger and more important goals. It is yet to be seen whether Facebook will be foiled by one of the 5 very common mistakes we are about to explore here.
Mistake # 1: Being too vague
Your Core Values should be both meaningful and easy to understand. So, if caring is a core value, what does “caring” really mean? Your Value statement should flesh this out in a simple and powerful way. Zuckerberg outlined his 5 Core Values as “The Hacker Way.”
Mistake # 2: Lack of accountability
Your Core Values must be built into your performance management process or the oversight to ensure success will be sorely absent.
Mistake # 3: Creating too many Values
By limiting this list to reflect only your highest priorities, your core Values will be focused and accountability will increase.
It’s tempting to make a long list of Values that you think are important; however, when you keep the number to about three or four key items, you make enacting them easier and more likely.
Mistake # 4: Failing to share core Values with prospective employees
Potential employees should know how things work and what it’s like at your organization from the start. When someone does not subscribe to your Values, don’t hire them.
Mistake # 5: Not including a core Values preface statement
Some core Values can end up seeming disingenuous or hypocritical once mistakes are made. The best way to inoculate your organization from this is to disclose that possibility up front.
Include a preface statement like this:
“Although we strive for perfection, we sometimes miss the mark. When we do, we apologize and work to improve as we move forward. The following is a list of the values we strive to maintain.”
Your students, instructors, vendors, customers, and employees will appreciate your honesty and be more likely to give you the benefit of the doubt, should problems arise.
Core Value Statements are crucial to the culture of your organization and shouldn’t be taken lightly. The best way to ensure that your trio of Mission, Vision, and Value Statements will succeed is to ensure they are integrated into all you do from an HR perspective.
By avoiding the common mistakes and using top-notch methods, you’ll ensure that employees can achieve your Mission and Vision by adhering to the core Values most important to your organization. A high-performing organization is one that can last and even thrive in tough economic times. It must by guided carefully using processes that ensure consistency and stability through the Values you hold most dear.
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In His Name HR helps organizations build high performance Human Resources programs. Visit them at In HIS Name HR or e-mail them here.
Mark A. Griffin is the founder and chief consultant of In His Name HR LLC. Connect with him on LinkedIn or Twitter.
Mark A. Griffin | Christian Higher Ed HR
Aug 31, 2016
In HIS Name HR is proud to sponsor Live2Lead, a half-day leadership development simulcast designed to equip you with new perspectives, practical tools and key takeaways.
Use the code ‘Human’ to receive $15 off the individual ticket price
Teams of 10 or more enjoy a discount without the need for a special code.
Friday October 7th, 2016 || Live Simulcast from 8:00am — 12:30pm Tickets available at American Music Theatre: Tickets Here
Live2Lead is a half-day simulcast, leader development experience designed to equip you with new perspectives, practical tools and key takeaways. Learn from these world-class leadership experts, be prepared to implement a new action plan, and start leading when you get back to the office with renewed passion and commitment.
This year’s speakers include:
JOHN C. MAXWELL
Leadership expert, bestselling author, and coach
SIMON SINEK
Optimist and author, leadership authority
LIZ WISEMAN
Researcher, executive advisor, speaker, and President of the Wiseman Group
DAN CATHY
Chairman, President, and CEO of Chick-fil-A
Lunch will be sponsored by Chick-fil-A!
YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS THIS! Register now, seats are limited.
WHEN Friday, October 7, 2016 from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM (EDT)
Mark A. Griffin | Blog, Events
