When it’s annual goal setting time, I can lighten my personal risk by reducing my boss’ expectations of me. I can argue that the goals are too ambitious. I can push back on the assumptions. I can offer far lower goals to make myself look better.
But, when I respond that way, I end up creating more risk for those we serve. More risk they might not have the resources they need. More risk they might have to take out loans. More risk they won’t be able to cover the basics because we can’t meet their needs.
At goal-setting time, mission-centered advancement folk ask themselves, “what could my annual results look like if I set the bar based on the need and not on my comfort?”
When we work to mitigate our own risk, we don’t reduce it.
We simply move it to those who usually have far fewer options than we do.
