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Have You Tried LAOGs (Reverse Goals)?

Wednesday 16th March 2011 | 6 comments

I am putting together a workshop for rural leaders at the moment - it's a return gig (always nice...) and the organiser reminded me that the hit process last year was Reverse Goals (or LAOGs).

This tool is a great way to jump-start your ideas. It works like a double negative, and interrupts brain patterns to force you into some new ideas. It is also fun, which encourages the brain to be creative. You can use it on your own or as a group technique - it works like this:

Start with a goal: For example, if you were a meeting organiser, a goal might be 'To start all our meetings on time'.
Write it as a reverse goal: 'No meetings should start on time.'
Brainstorm strategies for reaching the reverse goal (not the real goal): Your list for our meetings example might include:

• Don't include meeting times with agendas
• Make everyone wait for the last arrival
• Make it clear that time is not a priority for meetings
• Encourage people to double-book meetings
• Make sure you arrive late yourself most of the time
• Give the last arrivals a special reward for their lateness

Now, try to reverse all the strategies (it may not work with some, and others like the last one in my list, may work in two or more ways):

• Emphasise meeting times on agendas
• Start meeting exactly on time, don't wait for the last arrival and don't fill them in on what they have missed
• Make it clear that time is a priority for meetings
• Punish people who double-book meetings
• Never arrive late yourself
• Give the last arrivals a punishment for their lateness (or reward early arrivals)

Review your list of reversals, looking for good ideas: In our example, I like the idea of rewarding early or on-time arrivals, as well as the one about starting on time no matter who has still not arrived.

So, your challenge this week is to use the reverse goals techniques on a problem or dilemma in your life, either at work or home.

Tag: tips

Comments

1. Hi, Joanna. I've seen this done in the advertising industry. Listing all the ways we could torpedo the campaign and lose the client. It was indeed more fun and more productive than the 'old' way. Best regards, P. :)

   Posted by Paul Hassing | Wednesday 16th March 2011 @ 9:24am

2. Indeed Paul, thanks. I have had great results with it in workshops, and also emails months later from people who are still using it and finding it very productive. It gets results.

   Posted by Joanna Maxwell | Wednesday 16th March 2011 @ 9:35am

3. Joanna, great exercise - simple and effective. Thanks, Monica

   Posted by Monica Redden | Wednesday 16th March 2011 @ 9:53am

4. Thanks Monica, it's exactly that - simple and effective. Hope you enjoy using it!

   Posted by Joanna Maxwell | Wednesday 16th March 2011 @ 10:00am

5. Thanks for this post. It was pointed out to me by Emma McDermott in NSW, Oz.

   It's always a good idea to think with the end in mind, as we navigate our wobbly path to achievement, and these simple steps are a great reminder.

   Neil Smith
   Thanks.

   Posted by Neil Smith | Thursday 17th March 2011 @ 3:38pm

6. Neil, thanks for this comment from across the Ditch. Good to hear from you.

   Posted by Joanna Maxwell | Thursday 17th March 2011 @ 3:54pm