Paired Elements for Leaders

Objective and Plan

The Way Forward

academy

An objective is directional—it’s about moving at the right speed and in the right general direction.

A plan is a way forward strategy—it’s the next visible, actionable steps in service of reaching the objective. 

As a leader, knowing your team’s individual and collective objectives and plans will increase your opportunity to engage them more effectively and to achieve greater success. The distinction between objective and plan is an important one to get right, and getting it right can make all the difference in your team’s performance.

Lesson 1

INTRODUCTION

course objectives

  • Differentiate between objectives and plans.
  • Connect individual objectives and plans to your team and organization’s objectives and plans.
  • Construct a connecting framework that engages the individual while advancing the objectives and plans of your team.

Objective and Plan Introduction

Plans activate objectives. Plans also accept the reality that these objectives—these “big picture” purposes—are often farther off than nearby and by nature of that distance are hard to see and hard to navigate toward.

With an objective on the horizon, a functional plan needs to only see the next few steps to move in the right direction.

 

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Lesson 2

Making the Connection

Connecting Objective and Plan

An objective is directional—it’s about moving at the right speed and in the right general direction.

A plan is a way forward strategy—it’s the next visible, actionable steps in service of reaching the objective.

 

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reflection activity

Connecting Objective and Plan

To turn a dream into reality, we need to clarify our purpose (the objective) and chart the way forward (the plan). How well do you connect organization, team, and individual objectives to plans? Are your plans adaptable or rigid? Relationship-focused or task-focused? Consider these questions as you answer the prompts below.
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How much do you agree with the following statements?
My organization’s plans chart the way forward in small, adaptable steps rather than overly prescriptive and directive leaps.
My organization’s plans focus on assembling relationships and creating environments that contribute to mentoring and learning as opposed to fixed timelines and prescriptive rules.
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Lesson 3

Objectives in Leadership

What is an Objective?

As a leader, it’s important to understand the objectives driving your team members.

Think of it as a bridge that connects “where they are now” to “where they want to be.”

 

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reflection activity

What is an Objective?

You will need to invest time with your team members to discuss how they see themselves and their “grand purpose” or objective. Understanding their perspective is the first step in helping to connect their objectives with those of your team and organization. As a thought exercise, consider your own sense of grand vision and objective.
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(Optional) Only used to send you your response.
Answer the following from your own experience, but remember that these would be helpful concepts to also explore with those you lead.
Purpose is more motivating to me than carrots (rewards) or sticks (punishments).
Lack of purpose holds me back.
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Objective is a Discovery

When it comes to setting goals and objectives, we often think we need to have grand visions of what we want to do. We think we need to be specific about all the desired results and possible outcomes. But all you need to start is a direction.

 

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reflection activity

Objective is a Discovery

Consider your own objectives as you answer the prompts on this screen. Then, use this experience to invite the same kind of reflection from your team members during your next one-on-one.

 

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(Optional) Only used to send you your response.
How much do you agree with the following statements?
As I seek to identify my Objectives, I get stuck at the beginning, believing I need to have a very specific target. So, I don’t move forward.
I have a strong sense of my “why.”
When I have failures along the way, I use them like Battleship misses, helping me zero in on my target.
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Lesson 4

Plans in Leadership

What is a Plan?

Plans will supply you with the momentum to move forward towards your objectives. But they need to be flexible enough to evolve in ever-changing environments.

 

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A Plan is a Circle

It may be useful to think of plans in terms of cycles. Connect your objectives to plan your days, weeks, and months, these cycles will begin to appear.

 

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reflection activity

A Plan is a Circle

Are your plans circular? Have you refined them by continually knocking off the edges to make them more well-rounded? Consider this as you answer the prompts on the screen.

 

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(Optional) Only used to send you your response.
Answer the following questions. To extend this activity, consider how you have experienced and plan to experience Orient, Assemble, Act, and Achieve.
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Lesson 5

Leading Synergy

Bringing Objectives and Plans Together

An objective is directional—it’s about moving at the right speed and in the right general direction.

A plan is a way forward strategy—it’s the next visible, actionable steps in service of reaching the objective.

 

Play Video

reflection activity

Bringing Objectives and Plans Together

We seldom see the end from the beginning. How can we ensure our objectives and plans are clear enough to inspire and direct, yet flexible enough to account for learning and adaptation?

 

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(Optional) Only used to send you your response.
Answer the following questions.
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Lesson 6

Conclusion

Objective and Plan Conclusion

Your job as a leader is to help your team articulate and shape their objectives, and craft plans to reach these objectives.

Doing so will move team members forward, build momentum, and open new perspectives, opportunities, and directions.

 

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We care deeply about helping you live your best life.   

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Author, Founder, CEO Life Engineering

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