Come up with your BHAG

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A genuine BHAG is a clear and captivating objective that serves as a unifying focal point for collective effort, igniting team spirit. It possesses a distinct finish line that allows the organisation to determine when the goal has been achieved, as people are naturally inclined to strive towards clear targets.

A true BHAG should push you and your employees slightly beyond your comfort zone. Setting a goal of achieving a 10% revenue growth in the next 12 months does not qualify as a BHAG. In the 1960s, NASA's BHAG was not "Having 12 successful launches and coming in under budget," but "Putting a man on the moon by 1969!"

However, as Collins and Porras emphasised, a remarkable goal must encompass more than being big, ambitious, and audacious. To ensure your BHAG is truly exceptional, consider asking yourself the following five questions:

Is it set for ten or more years into the future? Goals that have a timeframe of less than ten years might not be significant enough to qualify as a BHAG. A truly exceptional goal necessitates extensive planning, research, and execution over an extended period.

Is it measurable, allowing for clear indications of accomplishment? It is crucial to establish specific metrics for your goal. If the "finish line" keeps shifting, people may become disheartened as the job never seems to be done.

Does it consist of 80% impossibility and 20% possibility? Your goal should be substantial enough to challenge and inspire team members. However, an entirely impossible objective can be demotivating.

Does it leverage your passions and strengths? Pursuing a truly significant goal requires considerable effort. It is preferable to engage in something you love and excel at, rather than something that drains you or demands expertise outside your areas of strength.

Does it propel your business towards greatness and stretch individuals and processes? Great athletes, artists, and businesspeople continually push themselves to accomplish what others cannot or will not. To achieve something remarkable, people need the motivation to exceed their perceived limits and explore innovative processes. The goal should not merely focus on doing "more" but rather on being different and better.