Surprise! Trying Your Hardest and Doing Your Best Doesn’t Work.

Yes, you have read me correctly—trying your hardest and doing your best does not produce the best results! Never did, never will, so stop buying into this myth.

First of all, it is an unquantifiable and thus immeasurable concept. One never knows whether or not they succeeded. Therefore, one never knows if they are succeeding or failing. This is what does work: specific goals and objectives. “What, by when”—that’s the only measurable method for determining success and failure. “What, by when” is the best way for measuring performance. Really, the only way!

If you give your employees production standards and inspect them regularly, provide them with training and listen to their issues, you will support their success. You and your employees will reach greater goals with greater satisfaction than if your employees are left to “work their hardest and do their best” while thinking that this alone is adequate, having no idea what they really need to do for the business to be profitable and for them to be successful.

In fact, you will find that when you convert from the “trying hard” way to the “what, by when” method, production from the same employees will skyrocket. Does this mean they were not trying their hardest after all? NO! It simply means that having specific goals yields a more directed effort with greater results than simply working hard and doing your best.

It is a fact of life: working towards goals yields better results than working hard. Try it, it works. Everyone will be happier and more productive. In fact, you will be able to support higher wages from greater employee productivity, so everyone wins.