--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In fact, in our initial surveys we…" description: "\"“In fact, in our initial surveys we learned that only one employee in seven could name even one of their organization’s most important goals. That’s ri..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30d/chris-mcchesney-33021_goals_in-fact-in-our-initial-surveys-we-learne_854728.jpg" --- # In fact, in our initial surveys we learned that only one… ![“In fact, in our initial surveys we learned that only one employee in seven could name even one of their organization’s most important goals. That’s right—15 percent could not name even one of the top three goals their leaders had identified. The other 85 percent named what they thought was the…” quote by Chris McChesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30d/chris-mcchesney-33021_goals_in-fact-in-our-initial-surveys-we-learne_854728.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30d/chris-mcchesney-33021_goals_in-fact-in-our-initial-surveys-we-learne_854728.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30d/chris-mcchesney-33021_goals_in-fact-in-our-initial-surveys-we-learne_854728.jpg) > ““In fact, in our initial surveys we learned that only one employee in seven could name even one of their organization’s most important goals. That’s right—15 percent could not name even one of the top three goals their leaders had identified. The other 85 percent named what they thought was the goal, but it often didn’t remotely resemble what their leaders had said.”” [Chris McChesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-mcchesney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Many employees cannot recall their organization’s top goals, leading to misaligned effort and poor performance. **In simple terms:** People often don’t know the key goals. Key Takeaway Clarify and communicate goals clearly. Themes communication alignment leadership performance goal-setting Mood frustrated concerned motivated Type observational advisory strategic When to use this quote - team meetings - performance reviews - onboarding - goal‑setting workshops Key Concepts Strategic clarity organizational behavior goal cascade Questions to Reflect On - How can leaders ensure goals are understood? - What systems can verify goal comprehension? A Different Perspective Leaders may overestimate employees’ awareness of goals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Goals Leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals-leaders-786874/) [Important Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-goals-452086/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Percent Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/percent-goals-786873/) [Seven Organization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seven-organization-786875/) [Thought Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-goal-576288/) ## Related quotes > [Positional leaders ignore the fact that every person has hopes, dreams, desires, and goals of his own. And leaders must bring their vision and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/positional-leaders-ignore-the-fact-that-every-person-has-hopes-dreams/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [“At the beginning of an address to an audience of 150 employees at their annual company retreat, I asked everyone to stand up. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newberry-tommy/at-the-beginning-of-an-address-to-an-audience-of-150-employees-at/) [Newberry, Tommy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newberry-tommy/) > [I thought of myself as a very goal-oriented person. The more I've aged, the more I'm like, well, maybe I'm not that ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bowen-yang/i-thought-of-myself-as-a-very-goal-oriented-person-the-more-i-ve-aged/) [Bowen Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bowen-yang/) > [Siddhartha has one single goal-to become empty, to become empty of thirst, desire, dreams, pleasure and sorrow-to let the Self die. No longer to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/siddhartha-has-one-single-goal-to-become-empty-to-become-empty-of/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“He gathered enthusiasm when he thought of the goal, and not the means by which he had accomplished it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-turtledove/he-gathered-enthusiasm-when-he-thought-of-the-goal-and-not-the-means/) [Harry Turtledove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-turtledove/) > [When your mind is flooded with negative thoughts, it is not easy to wish them away. You need a positive thought - a goal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prakah-iyer/when-your-mind-is-flooded-with-negative-thoughts-it-is-not-easy-to/) [Prakah Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prakah-iyer/) > [I'm happy to be scoring important goals in the national team and here in Guangzhou, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulinho/i-m-happy-to-be-scoring-important-goals-in-the-national-team-and-here/) [Paulinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulinho/) > [Most people get overwhelmed by the insignificant decisions of their lives. I'm urging people to minimize the time spent on these when they're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pozen/most-people-get-overwhelmed-by-the-insignificant-decisions-of-their/) [Robert Pozen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pozen/) > [“distracting opportunities have to die for your most important goals to live.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/distracting-opportunities-have-to-die-for-your-most-important-goals/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) > [One of the most important goals to have may well be the goal to create the life you want without preventing other people from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-carey/one-of-the-most-important-goals-to-have-may-well-be-the-goal-to/) [Timothy Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-carey/) > [High self-esteem isn't a luxury. It's a necessity for anyone who has important goals to achieve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/high-self-esteem-isn-t-a-luxury-it-s-a-necessity-for-anyone-who-has/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [For me, it is the trophies that are important, not the goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernandinho/for-me-it-is-the-trophies-that-are-important-not-the-goals/) [Fernandinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernandinho/) > [Only when your memories are more important to you than your goals are you old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nido-r-qubein/only-when-your-memories-are-more-important-to-you-than-your-goals-are/) [Nido R Qubein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nido-r-qubein/) > [People are not lazy. They simply have important goals that is, goals that do not inspire them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kavinder-kanwar/people-are-not-lazy-they-simply-have-important-goals-that-is-goals/) [Kavinder Kanwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kavinder-kanwar/) > [As you get older, it's important to have goals. When you're a kid you have them, but other people can set them for you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolph-lundgren/as-you-get-older-it-s-important-to-have-goals-when-you-re-a-kid-you/) [Dolph Lundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolph-lundgren/) ## More by Chris McChesney > [“We believe the principles of execution have always been focus, leverage, engagement, and accountability. Are”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-mcchesney/we-believe-the-principles-of-execution-have-always-been-focus/) [Chris McChesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-mcchesney/) > [“Discipline 1: Focus on the wildly important requires you to go against your basic wiring as a leader and focus on less so that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-mcchesney/discipline-1-focus-on-the-wildly-important-requires-you-to-go-against/) [Chris McChesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-mcchesney/) > [“Most people fall in the middle between the models and the resisters. They represent your greatest potential leverage for improving performance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-mcchesney/most-people-fall-in-the-middle-between-the-models-and-the-resisters/) [Chris McChesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-mcchesney/) > [“Sometimes, choosing your WIG is about more than selecting the aspect of your business where the greatest results are desired; it’s about a WIG…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-mcchesney/sometimes-choosing-your-wig-is-about-more-than-selecting-the-aspect/) [Chris McChesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-mcchesney/) > [“The secret to Discipline 4, in addition to the repeated cadence, is that team members create their own commitments.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-mcchesney/the-secret-to-discipline-4-in-addition-to-the-repeated-cadence-is/) [Chris McChesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-mcchesney/) > [“the more you try to do, the less you actually accomplish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-mcchesney/the-more-you-try-to-do-the-less-you-actually-accomplish/) [Chris McChesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-mcchesney/) > [“The cadence of accountability is a rhythm of regular and frequent meetings of any team that owns a wildly important goal. These meetings happen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-mcchesney/the-cadence-of-accountability-is-a-rhythm-of-regular-and-frequent/) [Chris McChesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-mcchesney/) > [“Lead measures are quite different in that they are the measures of the most high-impact things your team must do to reach the goal.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-mcchesney/lead-measures-are-quite-different-in-that-they-are-the-measures-of/) [Chris McChesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-mcchesney/) > [“The kind of scoreboard that will drive the highest levels of engagement with your team will be one that is designed solely for (and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-mcchesney/the-kind-of-scoreboard-that-will-drive-the-highest-levels-of/) [Chris McChesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-mcchesney/) > [“Whenever you see a man on top of a mountain, you can be sure he didn’t fall there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-mcchesney/whenever-you-see-a-man-on-top-of-a-mountain-you-can-be-sure-he-didn-t/) [Chris McChesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-mcchesney/) > [“the highest level of performance always comes from people who are emotionally engaged and the highest level of engagement comes from knowing the score—that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-mcchesney/the-highest-level-of-performance-always-comes-from-people-who-are/) [Chris McChesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-mcchesney/) > [“managing a company by looking at financial data (lag measures) is the equivalent of “driving a car by looking in the rearview mirror.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-mcchesney/managing-a-company-by-looking-at-financial-data-lag-measures-is-the/) [Chris McChesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-mcchesney/) > [“If you ignore the urgent, it can kill you today. It’s also true, however, that if you ignore the important, it can kill you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-mcchesney/if-you-ignore-the-urgent-it-can-kill-you-today-it-s-also-true-however/) [Chris McChesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-mcchesney/) > [“A good lead measure has two basic characteristics: It’s predictive of achieving the goal and it can be influenced by the team members.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-mcchesney/a-good-lead-measure-has-two-basic-characteristics-it-s-predictive-of/) [Chris McChesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-mcchesney/) [Explore all 15 Chris McChesney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-mcchesney/) ## More Goals quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [The goal of spiritual practice is full recovery, and the only thing you need to recover from is a fractured sense of self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-goal-of-spiritual-practice-is-full-recovery-and-the-only-thing/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Every drop of rain hits its appointed target.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/every-drop-of-rain-hits-its-appointed-target/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [“Achieving mental harmony is one of the greatest goals and experiences in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kambiz-mostofizadeh/achieving-mental-harmony-is-one-of-the-greatest-goals-and-experiences/) [Kambiz Mostofizadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kambiz-mostofizadeh/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Too many times we flitter our energy into too many goals and in the process don't achieve much. Focus is very important in life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaishali-kasture/too-many-times-we-flitter-our-energy-into-too-many-goals-and-in-the/) [Vaishali Kasture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaishali-kasture/) > [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [According to the best research, less than 3% of Americans have written goals, and less than 1% review and rewrite their goals on a daily basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/according-to-the-best-research-less-than-3-of-americans-have-written/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. This is the path way to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-you-have-accomplished-your-goal-simply-walk-away-this-is-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“What shapes us is not always our achievements but our omissions. Not lies; simply the truths we don’t tell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-tudor/what-shapes-us-is-not-always-our-achievements-but-our-omissions-not/) [C.J. Tudor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-tudor/) [Browse all 21,276 Goals quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“In fact, in our initial surveys we learned that only one employee in seven could name even one of their organization’s most important goals. That’s right—15 percent could not name even one of the top three goals their leaders had identified. 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