Press Release – Forbes Finance
August 3, 2023Participant Review
August 16, 2023I just heard an interesting video I’m still ruminating on. You can watch it here: https://www.instagram.com/
The premise of it was in meetings, addressing goals does not get the engagement leaders want, but moving to questions regarding impact will get more responses.
He said a leader moved from talking about goals to asking these impact questions:
- Who made your job easier this week?
- Whose job did you make easier this week?
- Who helped you/motivated you/made you happy?
- Who did you help/motivate/make happy?
These questions encourage a deeper reflection on the relationships and interactions within a team, ultimately leading to improved engagement. However, the concern raised is valid—completely abandoning the discussion of goals can lead to a lack of individual responsibility. Team members may lean on collective efforts and overlook their direct impact on the bottom line.
The key to balancing these two approaches is to use the impact questions as a tool to facilitate the achievement of larger goals. For instance, if the overarching objective is to enhance expense tracking and cash flow management, it’s crucial to express this goal at the beginning of the meeting. Make it clear that the team is collectively working towards this financial target.
Then, as the discussion unfolds, introduce the impact questions. By doing so, you encourage your team to reflect on their roles within the larger financial goal. Here’s how it works:
Goal Setting:
Begin the meeting by articulating the financial goal—improving expense tracking and cash flow management. This sets the stage and provides a clear direction for the team.
Impact Questions Integration:
As the discussion progresses, bring in the impact questions. When team members consider who made their job easier, whose job they assisted, and how they contributed to the motivation and happiness of their colleagues, they are encouraged to connect these actions to the financial goal.
For example:
If someone mentions that a colleague helped streamline a financial reporting process, this directly contributes to better expense tracking.
When team members discuss how they motivated each other, it leads to a more harmonious work environment, which can positively impact cash flow management.
Recognizing their role in making someone’s job easier may prompt team members to identify areas where they can optimize processes to save time and resources, directly affecting the financial bottom line.
The beauty of this approach is that it combines the strengths of both goal-oriented discussions and impact-driven conversations. It maintains a clear direction while ensuring that each team member understands their unique contributions to the overarching financial objectives. This approach not only encourages individual responsibility but also provides a sense of purpose, as each person can see how they are actively contributing to the team’s financial success.
Incorporating impact questions into discussions about financial goals is a powerful strategy. It creates a balance that empowers individuals to take ownership of their roles in achieving the broader objectives, such as expense tracking and cash flow management. Ultimately, this holistic approach enhances team engagement and drives progress toward financial targets while fostering a culture of collaboration and accountability.
– Jess