From Mission to WIG
Focus on the Wildly Important
This framework helps organizations translate their mission and strategy into a set of focused, wildly important goals (WIGs) with clear finish lines. It involves identifying the most important area to improve, setting a high-level WIG, and then breaking it down into smaller, manageable battles.
- Focus on the wildly important, not just the urgent.
- Set clear finish lines for each WIG.
- Identify the fewest number of battles necessary to win the war.
- Identify the Most Important Area to ImproveDetermine which area of the organization needs the most improvement, and set a high-level WIG. This involves answering the question, 'If every other area of our operation remained at its current level of performance, which one area would we want to improve the most?'Pro tipAvoid asking the question, 'What's our most important priority?' as it can lead to a never-ending debate.WarningBe careful not to set too many WIGs, as this can lead to a lack of focus and clarity.
- Set a High-Level WIGSet a clear and achievable WIG that is aligned with the organization's mission and strategy. This involves defining the finish line and setting a specific, measurable goal.Pro tipMake sure the WIG is challenging but achievable, and that it is aligned with the organization's overall strategy.WarningBe careful not to set a WIG that is too easy or too hard, as this can lead to a lack of motivation or engagement.
- Identify the Fewest Number of Battles Necessary to Win the WarDetermine which battles are necessary to win the war, and set clear finish lines for each battle. This involves identifying the key initiatives and projects that will drive the most impact.Pro tipFocus on the fewest number of battles necessary to win the war, and make sure each battle is aligned with the overall WIG.WarningBe careful not to take on too many battles, as this can lead to a lack of focus and clarity.
The Opryland Hotel used the From Mission to WIG framework to improve guest satisfaction. They set a high-level WIG to achieve a top box score of 55%, and then identified three critical battles to win the war: arrival experience, problem resolution, and food and beverage quality.
The framework was developed by Sean Covey and is based on his experience working with organizations to implement the 4 Disciplines of Execution. It is designed to help leaders create focus and clarity in their organizations, and to ensure that everyone is working towards the same goals.