Plans. They go awry.

Last night I returned from Unalakleet, a remote village on the Bering Sea. I love opportunities to travel to rural Alaska! I always end up having great experiences with really fantastic people.

I travelled to Unalakleet to facilitate a portion of a leadership retreat for youth workers. My wife, who is half Inupiaq Eskimo and from “nearby” Nome, has family and a best friend there; so, I took advantage of the opportunity by extending the trip a few days and brought my wife and two young sons with me.

The salmon were running. It was a very busy time. Most people in the community rely heavily on fish and game to stock their freezers. My wife’s aunt and uncle wanted to take us to seine for salmon and then prepare the salmon the traditional way at their fish camp. However, that morning the weather wasn’t good. So, we postponed a few hours. In the meantime, I helped work on the boat that had developed a few problems. Then, a member of our group was feeling ill. And the kids needed a nap. We lost a few more hours; and then, there wasn’t time to fish.

The plan shifted to include meeting up with another family who had netted about 100 salmon; to help them prepare their fish. They weren’t quite ready. So, we lost another couple of hours.

Eventually, by late afternoon, everyone was finally ready and we were able to launch. We arrived at camp by early evening. We had a great time beach-combing, looking for fossilized mammoth bones and ivory. We enjoyed a dinner of salmon and halibut cooked over an open fire that no ‘Top Chef’ could even begin to match. The other family eventually joined us, bringing all their fish, and the work to cut, hang and dry the salmon began. I had a great time participating in this way of life. And it was fun to introduce my young sons to it, and watch them have new experiences. It was a rich way to connect with family and make new friends.

Here’s the point: Plans don’t always work out the way we might hope.

However, effective leaders know how to accomplish the intended results regardless.

Let me explain: Our primary goal that day was to spend quality time together with family. Secondarily, our goal was to do that while participating in some aspect of a traditional way of life. Following these, were a whole list of other goals including: getting the boat ready for the season, fishing, helping neighbors, and so on. My wife’s aunt and uncle effectively led our little family through a path of changes, adjustments and contingencies until we eventually accomplished the core purpose of what we set out to do.

My wife’s aunt and uncle were leading our little adventure. We didn’t accomplish everything we intended, to the full extent that we intended; but we fully accomplished our primary goal. We spent lots of time together as a family. It ended up looking different than we originally thought. But, it happened: the day was a success.

Here are four qualities of their leadership that accomplished the goal:

• Clear Goals: We knew what we wanted to accomplish and how we wanted to do it. Even though it changed numerous times; the goals were clear. That gave us something to organize conversation, planning, and energy around.

• Few Priorities: There were many goals and desires; but only one core priority: enjoying time as a family. We all knew that. Secondarily, we wanted to do this while participating in some traditional ways of life. It made the delays and changes both understandable and tolerable. Because we were all focused in the same direction, we were able to achieve it.

• Contingency Planning (two types)
  

1. Goals prioritized over methods: While the ends don’t always justify the means – sometimes we fall in love with the means and lose track of the ends. Even though the weather was bad, the boat wasn’t ready, the kids needed naps… we were able to make adjustments to the plan and methods. We didn’t lose our prioritized goals. In fact, all the twists and turns were just another way of participating in family life. We had meals together, played with the kids, worked on the boat…we spent time with each other.
2. Prepared targets of opportunity: Although our core goals were clear – we also had a list of other goals we could try to accomplish along the way. As long as these minor goals, or targets of opportunity, didn’t pull us away from the core goals, we were able to easily create value out of unplanned detours.

Think about a goal you’re currently pursuing. Are all four aspects listed above included in the planning and implementation process?

If not, would you benefit from 15-20 minutes of additional thought or conversation to clarify your goals, identify your priorities or sketch out contingencies?