Threshold of Pride

The ‘threshold of pride’ is a helpful concept to use in setting future goals for individuals and teams. It helps to overcome two issues that we all tend to suffer from:

Both of which lead us to a situation where the goals we set are unhelpful in engaging and building on our true potential. A situation that means, excepting externally imposed demands, our working lives often fail to stretch and inspire us.

The ‘threshold of pride’ taps into elements of our gut to help us work out the level of ambition that will stretch us, and yet still remains practical.

It asks at what level of achievement do we BEGIN to feel pride in ourselves at its attainment. What is the minimum impact we would need to deliver to make us feel good in ourselves, and want to tell others what we had managed to do?

Most of those who live unremarkable working lives do so largely because they fail to plan to live anything else. Work becomes simply a means to provide for our lives outside work.

But our work can be so much more than that. It can be a place to grow, to enable, to achieve, to make a difference. A source of teamwork, pride, personal development and fulfilment. The workshop and showcase of your potential and your values – if you so choose.

Part of that clearly lies in the meaning of your work and how you see its value to others. But part of it also lies in striving toward shared worthwhile goals and aspirations.

The rest of your goal setting procedures can remain exactly as they are. All that this tool requires is that, before you commit to any particular outcomes, you ask yourself (or your team) “Does this represent a point at which we will feel proud of its attainment?” And then respond accordingly.

Why not start by laying out your current objectives on a scale like the one above right, and then seeing whether that balance is truly worthy of you and your potential?