Through self-reflection, it’s been my longstanding opinion that a top motivator for accomplishing goals and objectives is success, in small measure, while working toward a larger goal. All it can take is a bit of traction to spark inspiration for spirited problem-solving, creativity, physical or mental endurance; soaring to lofty heights once out of reach.
Fervent in my pursuit of using small successes as fuel to do more, I found myself trying to define a criteria for judging success. For my career in business research and communication, I tend to come back to two primary ways:
- Client satisfaction: Knowing clients are happy because they give compliments, kudos, and confirmation via CSAT interviews conducted after a project is complete.
- Impact on client business: Measurable outcomes such as improvements to specific KPIs, increased sales, and other conversion rates.
There is an established philosophy in this business that if a vendor is successful in the two areas above, client reengagement / referrals fall right into place, thus completing “The Circuit” of great work driving more great work!
I was content with this insight until a close friend of mine challenged me to recognize not everyone thinks about success the same way. So out of sheer curiosity, I polled my colleagues asking, “What top three criteria do you use to measure success once an engagement is complete?” Results were fascinating and drew a clear picture of what truly matters to us as a company. Here are a few quotes of what people said.
“Do clients love working with my team and me?”
“Can we find new opportunities to work together in the future?”
“Did my team and I hit all goals in the initial brief?”
…If the answer is yes, then that is success!
Furthermore, employees value personal satisfaction from delivering high quality end products, thinking innovatively, pushing boundaries, operating with high levels of truth, accuracy, and integrity.
Because this short exercise was so insightful, I recommend all teams complete it. Mapping how you and your teammates measure success helps set goals and establish strategies to work toward them. If anyone would like my help compiling an internal poll, analyzing and then using that data to learn more about your company, please reach out to me. I am happy to offer my counseling on this important initiative free of charge because more success generates more motivation to work hard and be outstanding for the benefit of oneself, one’s team, clients, and the industry in full.
– Lee Sumner, Research Director
