Are Cascading Goals (Really) Working for You? (09/16/2025)

Happy Tuesday!

I’m not going to bury the lead – there are two great (I think so anyway!😊) articles below. But don’t scroll yet.

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My Lesson from Last Week

Charlie Kirk’s death has been the biggest topic of conversation in the U.S. for the past several days. I’ve listened to the rhetoric on “both sides” of this conversation carefully. And I wonder if we are missing the biggest lesson.

I used the word conversation twice in the last paragraph, but I’m afraid that that’s not really the right word.

Conversation implies something that is too often missing – not just last week, but for some time. There’s been lots of talk about free speech, but a whole lot less listening.

I’m not talking about hearing or reading what someone said but listening to understand.

We talk about listening as an important skill in business and leadership, and it is. As much as we need it in those realms, it is clear we need it everywhere, perhaps now more than ever.

Listening to understand means that if someone says something we don’t agree with, we strive to understand their perspective. It doesn’t require that we acquiesce our beliefs to understand theirs.

Listening to understand doesn’t mean to “wait your turn” to make your point.

It doesn’t mean to look for flaws in their logic.

In fact, it isn’t about you (and your message) at all.

Listening to understand is about understanding the other person’s perspective, point of view, opinion, viewpoint, and the source of their emotions.

It urges (or maybe challenges) us to keep trying to learn rather than respond. Remember that person’s point is likely as closely held as yours – and makes as much sense to them as yours does to you.

Listening to understand isn’t ever easy, but when there seems to be fundamental differences of opinion, it gets significantly harder – and equally more important.

When we listen this way, we are almost assured to learn something new. But something more powerful and important happens. How do you feel when someone deeply and carefully listens to you?

You feel heard.

You feel valued.

You feel a new level of respect and trust in that person, don’t you?

Maybe you don’t change their mind, but you change your perspective about them.

I wish I could proclaim that we all just need to spend more time listening to understand, and everyone would comply, but I can’t.

What I can do is try to do it more effectively, carefully and consistently myself.

I hope you will make that choice like I am.

We can practice it in every situation. And like any skill worth mastering, as we get better at it in easier situations, we have more confidence to do it in the more challenging ones.

Are Cascading Goals (Really) Working for You?

One of the most common rhythms in organizational life is the annual goal setting process. And in most organizations, a large part (if not all of it) centers around cascading goals from the top – all the way through the organization. The goal of cascading goals is impeccable – to get everyone’s goals aligned throughout the organization. The reality and effectiveness of this practice vary greatly – and rarely achieves the level of alignment hoped for.

Which is sad, but understandable, for a couple of reasons.

KEEP READING

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