“What do you mean?” I asked.
Lauren was in a good mood. “I mean, I don’t think planning begins with setting goals. I think there is a lot that comes before, and for me it’s the best part. Setting goals is very specific. It takes work to set out precisely what we intend to accomplish. Before that, I like to muse.”
“Is that a management term, muse?”
“Not really. I think it has to do with vision, but I like the word muse. It is truly an exercise in imagination. And if I take it too seriously, it takes all the fun out of it. What do I think next year will bring? And in that environment, what do I intend to make happen?”
“Is this an exercise in solitude?”
Lauren stopped to think, “In the beginning, yes. Before we begin a discussion, with my team, it’s just me. At the same time, I encourage my team to be thinking the same way. Go someplace quiet and just think for a while. What do I intend to make happen?“
I really like the term “muse” in this concept. In my opinion, to muse or to imagine the future, could be viewed as the first exercise of brainstorming — the solitary part. That time of solitude when an individual can dream of what reality they would like to see happen.
Encouraging team members to “muse” and then allowing them to bring their thoughts to the table could prove to be very empowering for employees. Another benefit of musing could provide managers and supervisors with that golden opportunity to really understand the inner thoughts of his/her employees.
Great blog topic!