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In a back-to-B-school salute to Deming, Maslow, and the Brothers Grimm, Lighthouse Technical Resources Founder and Director Alan J. Cocconi hot-wired the Executive Network Group’s (ENG’s) June 2 meeting with “Goal Setting for Results -- Leadership Lessons from Little Red Riding Hood.” Cocconi’s crowding-the-throttle opening line -- that ENG’s recent speakers were “warm up acts” -- should have warned the audience: The timeless Fairy Tale was about to become a case study. After paying homage to management icons Ford (Henry), Kroc (Ray), and Burns (George, not Arthur), Cocconi summarized the trek to Grandmother’s house for us whose only recollection of Kindergarten was a 400-level Child Development course:
Cocconi wasted no time short-shifting from first-gear-synopsis to third: Was Little Red Riding Hood (LRRH) goal-oriented? Cocconi’s leadership analysis showed a yawning void:
Distractions and obstacles blurred LRRH’s focus … she took a roundabout route, the goal wasn’t really hers (it was her mother’s), and mom’s litany of negatives (“Don’t talk to strangers, don’t run, and don’t stay too long”) left LRRH with a head full of “negative conditioning.” With LRRH’s problem now clearly defined, Cocconi shared his recipe for success. After acknowledging Maslow’s hierarchy (from oxygen to self-actualization), Cocconi careened into overdrive: “… nobody acts on “needs” … they only act on “wants” … it’s a simple act of motivation.” That, he concluded, occurs only by employing Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-phased (and tangible) … SMART goals. After braking to a stop, Cocconi shifted smoothly into reverse for one final view of the early 19th century Brothers Grimm tale, Rotkäppchen (“Little Red-Cap”). With both basket and SMART goals now firmly in hand, LRRH is a woman on a mission. Now we can “grade” her goals …
The moral of the story? Set goals for yourself to be able to measure your success. Contact information: Alan J. Cocconi, Director Lighthouse Technical Resources Incorporated -- by R. T. Jones (6/20/2005) ***************************** Alan Cocconi is founder and director of Lighthouse Technical Resources, Inc., and a principal of Advocate Software Corporation. He works with organizations across the U.S. to select and implement customer relationship management (CRM) solutions and software. Cocconi has an extensive background in information technology and business consulting, having been in the professional services industry for over 25 years. In that time, he has worked with a wide variety of industries and applications. He has helped customers with technical, business, and organizational issues, and has coached many in the art and science of project management. Cocconi holds a BS in Marketing from the University of Connecticut and an MBA from Northern Illinois University. He is active in a number of organizations (including ENG) and has spoken before numerous industry and civic groups in the U.S. and Canada. |
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