I have long sternly admonished leaders of all organizations, whether for-profit, nonprofit, or government, large or small, full-time or part-time, that they are unequivocally accountable for:

1. Protecting all their people and the organization.
2. Engaging people – all people associated with the organization.
3. Optimizing performance and satisfaction.

But I’ve neglected to note that, thanks to research, technology, and ever-growing databases, Look 1st Solutions can be easily and painlessly implemented and operated. And the benefits begin accruing immediately.

Notify is the notification system most likely to prevent and the first to detect wrongful acts and conditions. It immediately begins Protecting people and the organization and enhancing trust.

An automated interactive management system enhances Engagement by facilitating and responding to feedback, comments, suggestions, and other input. It continually delivers invaluable information in real-time.

This enables organization leaders to make decisions with certainty and easily access invaluable feedback that otherwise would not be known. Better feedback accelerates and sustains performance, including sales and satisfaction, faster. Dissatisfaction turns into promotion. Comments and suggestions are the single most significant source of good ideas.

Leaders must Protect and Engage before performance and satisfaction can be Optimized. In good times, leaders may think the organization's performance and satisfaction are optimum, but they don’t have an accurate read without adequate metrics.

Organizational performance tends to vary by time, individual, team, unit, and function. And inevitably, distractions undermine performance. Different visions, goals, deliverables, and performance measures exacerbate the dynamic. Organization leaders don’t know what is possible.

Without the right mission, objectives, and metrics, sustaining optimum performance and satisfaction is impossible. That may seem daunting, but examples make everything easier. We have hundreds of missions, over a thousand objectives, and thousands of metrics, as well as a guide that has been continually refined as organizations around the globe use it.

The right mission, objectives, and metrics increase efficiency and effectiveness and decrease conflict and misunderstandings. They drive more collaboration and continuous improvement, resulting in more significant opportunities for development and new ventures, and better withstand external challenges.

Leaders can’t dodge the accountability to Protect, Engage, and Optimize. But it’s easy, costs little, and ensures smooth sailing through all challenges, seas, and weather.

Look 1^st has packages for every organization.

Protect. Engage. Optimize.