I've noticed that I've already been implementing the strategy "Never lose sight of the ultimate goal, and focus energy on shot-term objectives." naturally in my real life. Perhaps not only me but everyone unconsciously uses this strategy without even considering about it.
For example, the ultimate goal of the students organization that I'm working right now is to revive the Tohoku area and help them reconstruct their beauty that they have lost due to the earthquake. Nevertheless, the goal itself is too vague and too hard to achieve for only a number university students without any support from the government. Instead of blindly rushing into the ultimate goal, we set short-term goals such as selling special products in order to revitalize its industry and holding events in Tokyo that would keep the memory of the 3.11 in people's minds.
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| Sanriku Marche at Yurakucho. Shiho and Koji(not in this picture) came too! |
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| Collecting messages at Tokyo Tower |
Inside of each short-term goal, there are smaller goals and tasks including collecting volunteer members, organizing meetings between the members of the organization, and preparing for the actual event.
These things are steps that are necessary in order to achieve the ultimate goal. They're just normal steps that everyone will take without putting so much thought into it. Therefore, I believe that this strategy is something we all use unintentionally and is not an essential tactic that all great leaders should deliberately use.
Maybe the qualities of a good leader are things that we all share but it's just that some people tend to show them more conspicuously than others :)
I joined a student organization in the spring, and just thinking about it, it really is true that we use the long-term and short-term strategies to achieve the big goal of the organization.
ReplyDeleteWhat I really should be doing is probably setting a long-term goal for my studies though, lol.
On the other hand, I thought that Stefanson critically lacked the long-term strategy, and this led to the demise of his crew members, and his failure as a leader.
I'd really love to hear more about your Tohoku organization, what you do, and how you guys work it out :D
I totally agree with you that I should also set a long-term goal for my studies. First, I need to consider what I want to do as a work in the future. Then I should choose my majors depending on that dream, and take classes that are required.
DeleteMy Tohoku organization is a thing that started out with my friends and it expanded from there. We mostly do activities in Tokyo trying to keep people reminded of 3.11.
I'm also really interested in yours too:) Tell me about it!
Megumi
As Maki has noted above, it is great that you are with a group focused on helping the Tohoku area, and that you are able to see these principles of Shackleton's used so effectively in your group.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it's just my group that is working out these tactics, but all organizations that has their own principles must set a long-term goal and short-term goals that follow it. I suppose that it's a natural thing for all organizations.
DeleteMegumi