breakthrough goals

Just finished reading Cass Wheeler's "You've Gotta Have Heart: Achieving Purpose Beyond Profit in the Social Sector" -- quick read, good concepts -- a key phrase that I loved; "You've gotta have a breakthrough goal!" "Too many nonprofits focus on process goals," (raise this much money, ensure this many are at our fundraiser, get this many media hits, downside office space -- add your own here...) "and not end results. While these are important processes we do them because we want to make an impact. We want our communities and the people in them to be stronger, better and healthier. When we are intentional about how these processes move us closed to "breakthrough" we inspire the people in our organizations. As Wheeler eloquently states, " a breakthrough goal forces you to think about the long-term impact of your good work." "It also forces you to get serious about being the best you can be." "Here is the thing about breakthrough goals: They are such an adrenaline rush, providing such excitement, passion and discipline in an organization, that it is easy to get carried away."

I am thinking, I get that, I believe it in. I love the concept of "breakthrough goals" because they make us answer big questions like "what are we doing to make our community, nation, world a better place to be?" I have begun to ask the organizations I work with to take 10-15 minutes to ask every board member at the beginning of every board meeting, "What have we done to further our mission since our last meeting?" "How have we gotten a step (or two) to meeting our vision?" This gives everyone a change to spend a few minutes focusing on the big picture and let's the meeting begin with everyone's voice being heard. What a great way to start a meeting....