Jim Collins' book "Built to Last" introduces the term BHAG - Big Hairy Audacious Goal, which translates as a big hairy ambitious goal (BHAG).
This is a bold long-term goal that will certainly lead to success. Walt Disney once said, “If you can dream it, you can do it.” BHAGs are something similar to real dreams.
Instead of the short- and medium-term goals that companies typically use, BHAGs are only strategic goals and look to the future. Not every goal can become a BHAG; it must be ambitious enough to qualify.
Unfortunately, some companies have a problem with small goals. That is, companies set goals so small that almost no one doubts their achievability, or even worse, the goals are adjusted to the current situation. The worst thing is that such goals become strategic and it becomes completely clear that they do not lead to any development.
The problem with small goals is that they are not goals, but stages or steps to achieve large goals, but which companies do not have the courage to voice. And if a company does not develop, then it stagnates, and stagnation is a slow (or not so slow) death. The lack of ambitious goals may indirectly indicate the beginning of stagnation of the company.
The secret of BHAG goals lies in the fact that in order to achieve it you need to do something that will make the entire company grow, including employees, because everyone will have to leave their comfort zone. Flying to Mars is not a question! Of course, many will consider you crazy or an eccentric, but know that you are clearly not on the same path with these people. We will need those people who will say: “Mars is occupied by Musk, let’s fly to Venus - it’s warmer there.”
What is important to remember when working with BHAGs:
- BHAGs can represent either a strategic goal for a company or a personal life goal.
- BHAGs can coexist with each other, interbreed and evolve.
- Sometimes, in order to move to a new level of life, career or development, it is necessary to create new and revise old BHAGs.
- BHAGs are long-term strategic goals, often a vision for 5-10 years ahead. The main thing is that every step brings you closer to this goal.
- BHAG should be done according to SMART/FAST, and a reminder of its existence should occur constantly, for example, you can place a picture of the target on your smartphone screensaver or posters in the office.