A BHAG, or Big Hairy Audacious Goal, is a long-term, ambitious target that an organization sets to inspire and drive significant progress. Coined by Jim Collins and Jerry Porras in their book "Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies," a BHAG is meant to be bold and challenging, pushing the organization to achieve extraordinary results.
Key characteristics of a BHAG include:
- Ambitious: It stretches the organization beyond its current capabilities and requires innovative thinking and substantial effort to achieve.
- Long-term: Typically set with a 10- to 30-year time horizon, providing a distant target that guides the organization’s strategic direction over the long haul.
- Inspirational: It serves as a powerful motivator, energizing employees and stakeholders by providing a clear and compelling vision of the future.
- Clear and Compelling: A BHAG is easy to understand and communicates a specific and tangible outcome that the organization strives to achieve.
Examples of a BHAGs include:
- Social: "Eradicate hunger in our region within the next 20 years."
- Environmental: "Restore and protect 1 million acres of endangered habitats worldwide by 2045."
- Health: "Eliminate preventable diseases in underserved communities globally within the next 25 years."
Setting a BHAG involves:
- Visionary Thinking: Leaders must envision a future that significantly exceeds the status quo and articulate it in a way that resonates with the entire organization.
- Commitment: Achieving a BHAG requires unwavering dedication, resilience, and adaptability over the long term.
- Alignment: Ensuring that all strategic initiatives and efforts are aligned with the BHAG, creating a unified path toward its achievement.
A well-crafted BHAG can transform an organization by providing a focal point that drives innovation, fosters a sense of purpose, and galvanizes efforts toward a shared, ambitious goal.
