Identifying Your Wildly Important Goals

A wildly important goal (WIG) is a goal that can make all the difference. You’re going to commit to apply a disproportionate amount of energy to it.

In determining your WIG, don’t ask “What’s most important?” Instead, begin by asking “If every other area of our operation remained at its current level of performance, what is the one area where change would have the greatest impact?”

Whether your WIG comes from within the whirlwind or outside it, your real aim is not only to achieve it but also to then make the new level of performance a natural part of your team’s operation.

Focusing the Organisation

No team focuses on more than two WIGs at the same time.

• The key is not to overload any single leader, team, or individual performer.

The battles you choose must win the war.

• The sole purpose of WIGs at lower levels in the organization is to help achieve the WIGs at higher levels.

Senior leaders can veto, but not dictate.

• While the senior leaders will undoubtedly determine the top-level WIG, they must allow the leaders at each level below to define the WIGs for their teams.

All WIGs must have a finish line in the form of X to Y by when.

• Every WIG at every level must contain a clearly measurable result, as well as the date by which that result must be achieved.