Part 1:
From Roofshots to Moonshots - the difference between normal goals and ambitious dreams
Success. A word that comes up in every discussion about companies and company management. Every manager wants success. But how do you define success? When does it become a success? And is every failure to achieve a goal already a failure?
For many, success simply means growth: sales, profits, market share. But there is another definition of success. One that is not limited to growth. One that can take the company much further. We are talking about moonshots.
There are two types of goals that can be pursued in companies
Roofshots are “normally ambitious goals” that go beyond the current state of the company but still seem achievable. They can be seen as a logical continuation of the current strategy and a step towards an improved future.
Moonshots, on the other hand, are so-called "highly ambitious goals" that seem unattainable and go far beyond what is considered realistic. Moonshots are ideas that could revolutionize the company. Ideas that not only promise growth, but could take the company to a completely new level. Ideas that are highly ambitious and perhaps risky. Ideas that could have an enormous impact. Ideas like the self-driving car, the Hyperloop or the manned mission to Mars.
Why are highly ambitious goals so important?
Moonshots promote the growth of a company by putting pressure on it to continuously improve. They open up new perspectives and thus make an important contribution to the innovative power of a company. In addition, highly ambitious goals motivate employees and increase their commitment. When a team of people works towards an ambitious goal, they are bonded together by the common challenge and develop a strong team dynamic.
Moonshots challenge teams to challenge their traditional ways of doing things, think outside the box, and look for new, innovative approaches. This can take a company into areas it had no previous experience in and develop new business opportunities that would never have arisen otherwise.
And for all those who ask themselves: “Do we really need this?” and still hope that everything will be fine and that they can carry on working as before: This will not work in the medium term!
This is not only common knowledge; the renowned Harvard Business Review also reports once again in its current issue that companies urgently need to learn not only to optimize their existing business, but also to develop new business opportunities - and all at the same time! They need to learn to use uncertainty and potential threats to their advantage by constantly pursuing and developing different options at the same time. To achieve this, however, managers need modern methods, systems and the appropriate skills.
Using OKR (Objectives & Key Results) to achieve Moonshots
OKR is a framework that helps companies define and achieve their goals. At the same time, OKR is a highly ambitious system and is therefore ideal for implementing moonshots: It relies on a goal-focused approach and creates a clear connection between top company goals, department and team goals and individual goals. OKR makes it possible to set highly ambitious goals, define measurable results and continuously monitor progress.
Conclusion:
Highly ambitious goals are an important factor for the long-term success of a company. Roofshots can be seen as "normal daily tasks" that need to be implemented and therefore hardly contribute to the development of the company. Moonshots, on the other hand, promote innovation and creativity and have the potential to change a company. OKR is a framework that supports teams in not only developing highly ambitious goals, but also achieving them, thus ensuring the company's long-term success.