Commander’s Intent

If we want our teams to execute effectively and efficiently, they must know the desired outcome.

It sounds obvious, but how frequently do we find our teams gridlocked, not knowing how to progress or move forward? We’ve all seen it and perhaps even been part of it. Smart, high-caliber employees bumble into each other - wasting time, resources, and effort because they don’t know which way is up. Leaders can’t be in each meeting or make every decision for their teams.  So how do we get the organization moving in the same direction?

If this sounds familiar, the issues may stem from a lack of commander’s intent (CI), a term that originates in the military (you know I love our military) but that can be easily applied in industry. CI refers to the clarity of purpose and desired end state of a particular project. Great leaders can paint a picture and a vision of where the team is heading, what the destination looks like, and the end goal that equates to success for everyone involved. Once understood, the team knows exactly what to accomplish, and they are empowered to make decisions to get there. No need for micromanagement at a task level!

So, next time you sit down at a project kickoff meeting, ensure your employees see the big picture behind the project. Help them understand what you are collectively driving toward and empower them to make the decisions they feel are necessary to get to that destination.

Can you think of a time when your team would have benefitted from a stronger understanding of commander’s intent? Had a #greatboss who excelled at this? Let me know in the comments. 

#team #help #leaders #peopleandculture #performancemanagement #commandersintent