I recently had a thought-provoking conversation with one of my clients about setting targets for their team. We discussed the difference between referring to a time period as “twelve weeks” versus a “quarter.” A seemingly subtle distinction that holds significant psychological benefits and can impact how your team approaches goals and achieves progress.
Why calling it ‘twelve weeks’ can make a difference in your business:
1. The Human Connection: Weeks vs. Months
Outside of finance and business, we rarely use the term “quarter” in our daily lives. On the other hand, weeks are a natural unit of time that we all relate to easily. By adopting the twelve-week terminology, you tap into this familiarity and create a more personal connection with your team’s objectives.
2. Twelve Individual Weekly Steps
Thinking in terms of twelve weeks breaks down the time frame into twelve individual weekly steps. This approach allows your team to perceive progress more granularly, making it easier to celebrate achievements, set milestones, and measure outcomes. Instead of viewing a quarter as three long months, your team now has twelve opportunities to catch up, adjust, and ensure consistent progress.
3. Psychological Time Perception
A quarter can feel like an eternity, especially when facing ambitious goals. However, the idea of twelve weeks doesn’t evoke the same sense of length. By framing objectives in twelve-week increments, you create a sense of urgency without overwhelming your team. This balanced perspective helps maintain motivation and focus throughout the journey.
4. Agile Planning for Greater Efficiency
Long-range planning can be time-consuming and sometimes impractical, particularly when the business landscape is constantly evolving. By shifting your mindset to a twelve-week approach, you encourage a more agile planning style. Emphasise weekly progress, set intermediate milestones, and regularly measure performance. This way, your team can adapt to changes more efficiently and respond to challenges in real-time.
5. Empowering Your Team for Success
Calling it twelve weeks rather than a quarter allows you to empower your team more effectively. As a leader, you can provide better support and guidance when your team knows they have twelve weeks to achieve their objectives. Encouraging regular check-ins and helping when roadblocks arise promotes a stronger sense of teamwork and support.
6. More Time in the “Doing”
We all know the saying, “time is money.” This holds particularly true in business, where time spent planning can sometimes overshadow actual progress. By focusing on twelve-week intervals, your team can spend less time in lengthy planning phases and more time actively executing the project. This boosts productivity and allows your team to see the results of their efforts sooner.
The difference between calling a time period twelve weeks or a quarter might seem subtle, but it can have a profound impact on your team’s approach to targets and progress. By framing objectives in twelve-week increments, you create a more relatable and psychologically manageable timeline.
Andy.