What would happen in your world if you got paid for results, not how much time it took to get those results? Would you be willing to play that game? Some results are easy to measure, like, “I will ensure that company XYZ will have an increase in sales by 10% if they use my methods”. What about the intangibles?
Today I went outside to dig in my little garden patch. It is under a large pine tree and the soil needs work in order to have the best results. So I have taken it upon myself to do the needed work, to get the results I am looking for.
The results will be measurable and immeasurable, as in many lines of work. The particular measurable results I am working towards will be as follows:
Delicious food from the garden direct to our plates this summer
Lower cost of food
Fewer shopping trips for veggies
The non-tangible results I am also expecting are in the area of personal sanity and well-being. How will I measure this? Will I be more tolerant of others? Will I have more restful sleeps? Will I be a better person?
In a work related project how do we calibrate these kinds of intangible quality of life benefits? Until now the traditional way to assess these results has been through less sick days, and improved employee retention. Is there another way? Bhutan, a small Himalayan country has embarked upon a novel idea, a GNH or Gross National Happiness quotient. Read this link on the left hand side of the blog and let me know what you think. Would this work in your work and home environment? Would you like to be paid for results or for putting your time in?
Love the thinking Cynthia. Looking forward to more! fyi - the link to gross national happiness is not live on your blog. thanks.
ReplyDeleteLove the subject. Many years ago I was presented with the opportunity to create a long term vision project for a mining company. I, as you present so well in your Blog “TGIF or lets have a four day week,”
ReplyDeleteDidn’t know how to open myself to a different way of measuring things outside of the territory we usually do for measuring results. I went to learn how governments measure results for social projects, it got more and more complicated because we are used to one, and only one way of doing things. When I say “used to” I mean that there is no other way of doing it in our mind… at that time! I broke my head for weeks and I came with a surprising project that was bigger that I would ever thought that I present to the astonished board (It came true). Back to the question, would you be willing to get paid on results? I’m in, I have been in for a long time. At the beginning with one foot in and the other certainly out and slowly, slowly, both in. It brings my thoughts about self. Self sufficient, Self… you name it. Of course you want… some of us are just too afraid to try… and that’s OK. Certainly is not for all of us… not even thinking about it.
Ernesto
Very interesting Cynthia - the results measurable/immeasurable/non-tangible results. what a great combination your results and all "beneficial" or good ones! For your particular garden project, I wonder how it could change the world in measurable/immeasurable/non-tangible ways if we all took it on? So happy to see your blog, I'm going to sign up to Follow. Please check out my blog too www.juniperscitynights.blogspot.com.
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