Three key concepts in successful strategy execution are "Line of Sight," "Milestones," and "Leading Indicators." And one of the best metaphors for explaining what they are and how they contribute to reaching goals is Google Maps.
Going someplace new, there are people who will just jump in the car and start driving. "I'll find it." And often they do - but after taking wrong turns, a longer time, and probably spending more money than necessary.
A New Destination
When does someone use Google Maps? When going somewhere new, somwhere they haven't been before (or, at least, somewhere they haven't been recently). Using Google Maps is pretty simple - you put in your starting point and your destination, and Google provides the directions. Google even offers an estimate of how long it will take to get there.
The secret, of course, is in the directions. You wouldn't use Google Maps if you knew exactly how to get where you want to go. And what are directions? Well, directions are a collection of line of sight, milestones, and leading indicators.
When you start a journey, you can't "see" your destination. All you can do is follow directions, using milestones, leading indicators, and line of sight, and eventually you reach your goal.
Start from point A. Travel north (line of sight) 3 miles (your odomoter at 2.8 miles is a leading indicator - you're getting close to a milestone). Turn left onto Clairemont (milestone). Go east on I-85 27 miles (using the signposts along the road and your odomoter provides leading indicators and line of sight - you're on the right road, going in the right direction, and getting closer to the next milestone). Take exit 44B (milestone), go straight 3 miles (line of sight). You are at your destination.
When you started on the journey, you knew what you wanted your final destination to be - but you couldn't just "get there." (Don't we all want the ability to "Beam me up, Scotty," and just get to your goal without having to take the time and do the work to get there?) No, you followed a path that you charted out in advance. And you knew, if you followed the path carefully, you would eventually reach your desired destination.
Sometimes, you take a wrong turn and have to adjust to get back in the right direction. Sometimes it turns out the plan isn't right (have you ever read the fine print on the bottom of a Google-recommended route?) and you need to make changes along the way. Sometimes the plan has unexpected delays - but you know, if you just get through them, you'll still get to where you want to be. Perhaps delayed, perhaps it will cost more than you had originally planned - but you will get there.
And sometimes, while on your trip, you decide that where you wanted to go originally has changed. So, the plan has to change - because you're now headed for a new destination.
Line of Sight, Milestones, Leading Indicators
Yes, taking a trip is a lot like undertaking a new initiative. You know where you are at the start. You know where you want to be at the end. And you've got to figure out how to get there.
Just like a trip, successfully reaching goals requires a map. It's not always easy to navigate from here to there. You need milestones, line of sight, and leading indicators. You need the signposts that tell you you're going in the right direction; you need the indicators that tell you it's time to turn. Sometimes you need to review the map, and decide that a different route is needed.
Frequently, we know the goal - but we can't easily or quickly get there. We certainly can't "see" the final destination from the starting point. So build your map. Decide your route. Identify the milestones and indicators that will guide you along the way, that will help assure you that you're going in the right direction and on the right path - or those that will warn you if you're not. "Google Map" your strategic initiative. And you will greatly increase the odds of reaching your goal.
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