Create the Target Before You Shoot the Arrow

Do you have a target for what you are trying to accomplish?

I saw a cartoon years ago in which Charlie Brown shot an arrow at a fence and then proceeded to draw a circle around the arrow. At some level, he found this satisfying. This is not how great leaders think.

During my tenure at Chick-fil-A, I had the privilege of planning our annual meeting. The team and I spent months preparing for this event, and we always took the time to draw the target before we shot the arrow. And I am thankful we did. Here’s the leadership lesson that comes to mind as I reflect on these events: One of the reasons these events were a success—not the only reason, but one of them—is that we decided what we were trying to accomplish before we created the event. We drew the target BEFORE we shot the arrow.

There are many things leaders CANNOT do for their people. However, clarity regarding intent should never be in short supply. People must always know what they are trying to accomplish.

“The greatest gift leaders can give their people is clarity.”

The power of clarity transcends targets, goals, and objectives – it includes vision, values, and strategic intent, as well as other tactical issues. But what we are trying to accomplish cannot get lost in the process.

When you identify the target with crystal clarity, I think you may be amazed at how often your team will hit the mark.