You’ll Go Where You’re Looking

Short personal reflections, thoughts, and ideas

When driving a car, your eyes determine the path your vehicle follows. You will steer where you look. Anyone with a driver’s license probably knows this principle.

“You’ll go where you’re looking.” 🚗

This principle also explains why teams need a shared goal.

< One shared goal > 🎯

A clear, compelling, and shared goal increases the likelihood of everyone looking in the same direction. As such, they’ll also move in the same direction to achieve their goal.

< Multiple shared goals > 🎯🎯🎯

If a team has multiple goals that must be achieved simultaneously, chances are that only some people are looking in the same direction. Potentially resulting in confusion, misunderstandings, and not achieving the goal(s).

< No shared goal > 🤷‍♀️

Everyone is focused on their individual tasks, potentially all going in different directions. There’s no collaboration, no shared focus, and no teamwork.

This is why having one shared goal as a team makes sense.
Ideally, one long-term goal and smaller short-term goals.

Makes sense, right? 🤔

PS: this post draws inspiration from the Rework podcast by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, episode “Shape Up Principle: Decide When To Stop.”