Ok you're probably thinking "but aren't results the most important thing?"
Well, true, results are indeed important, but if that's all you look at, you wont have a true picture of your achievements. Focus on driving the activities then whatever the results, you'll have made progress. Here's what I mean...
Results alone can be rationalised whether good OR bad...
If a result was good, you or your team may claim success. But that success may have come from circumstances you had nothing to do with. E.g. A competitor being disqualified, a change in policy, a deal which came to you almost by default.
If a result was bad, you could also come up with reasons to explain this such as an unfavourable change in policy, losing a key team member, a change in customer circumstances and probably more...
Focus on driving the activities ("leading indicators")...
If you continuously drive activity, you can be proud of your efforts whatever the results. You also have the amazing gift of learning along the way.
If a result is great, then you know where to add more excellence, if it's poor, then you know what you might change.
Whether a result is good or bad, don't embarrassed by what you didn't do!!
Yes, we need to pay attention to a result or goal for a particular project or period, but don't only look at that when you get to the end. Drive and track the activities with relentless focus and you can't lose.
