B.H.A.G. – Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals is a goal-setting framework that involves setting ambitious, ambitious, and challenging goals that stretch the limits of what is currently possible. The acronym stands for "Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals."
Implementation Steps of BHAG Technique:
Identify the goal: Develop a clear, specific, and measurable goal that is ambitious and challenging.Develop a plan: Create a plan for achieving the goal that includes specific steps, timelines, and resources.
Communicate the goal: Share the goal with employees, stakeholders, and other key parties to build support and buy-in.
Monitor progress: Regularly track progress towards the goal and make adjustments as needed.
Celebrate successes: Recognize and celebrate achievements along the way to keep the team motivated and engaged.
Business Practical Example of BHAG Method:
A company's BHAG goal might be to become the leading provider of a certain product or service in their industry within the next five years. This goal would require the company to create new products or services, expand into new markets, and invest in marketing and advertising.
Useful questions for each step in BHAG Method:
Questions to Identify the goal:
Develop a clear, specific, and measurable goal that is ambitious and challenging. When identifying the goal, it's important to consider the following:- What do you want to accomplish?
- Why is this goal important?
- How does it align with your overall vision and mission?
- What are the key results or outcomes you want to achieve?
- What are the key milestones or markers of progress?
Questions to Develop a plan:
Create a plan for achieving the goal that includes specific steps, timelines, and resources. When developing the plan, consider the following:- What are the key actions you need to take to achieve the goal?
- Who will be responsible for each action?
- What resources do you need (e.g. money, people, equipment)?
- What are the timelines for each step?
- How will you measure progress?
Questions to Communicate the goal:
Share the goal with employees, stakeholders, and other key parties to build support and buy-in. When communicating the goal, consider the following:- Who needs to know about the goal?
- How will you communicate it to them?
- What are the key messages you want to convey?
- How will you engage and involve others in the goal-setting process?
Questions to Monitor progress:
Regularly track progress towards the goal and make adjustments as needed. When monitoring progress, consider the following:- How will you measure progress?
- Who will be responsible for tracking progress?
- How often will you review progress?
- What actions will you take if progress is not on track?
- How will you celebrate and acknowledge successes?
Questions to Celebrate Successes:
Recognize and celebrate achievements along the way to keep the team motivated and engaged. When celebrating successes, consider the following:- How will you recognize and acknowledge achievements?
- Who will be responsible for celebrating successes?
- What types of recognition or rewards will you offer?
- How will you use successes as learning opportunities?
Keep in mind that these steps are not necessarily linear and may involve multiple iterations, adjustments and changes. It's also important to make sure you have a dedicated team in place, to ensure the goals are met, and to have regular check-ins to evaluate progress and make any necessary adjustments.
A person's BHAG might be to run a marathon in under 4 hours within the next year. This goal would require the person to create a training plan, increase their running distance and speed, and make lifestyle changes such as eating a healthy diet.
Origins of BHAG Technique:
The concept of BHAG was first introduced by James Collins and Jerry Porras in their 1994 book "Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies." The idea behind BHAG is to set a goal that is so ambitious, it requires a significant stretch to achieve it. The authors believe that having a clear and ambitious long-term goal helps companies to stay focused and motivated in the face of the inevitable obstacles and setbacks that come with growth and change.
