An example closer to home would be how you use goal-setting in your own life. Do you have a fuzzy goal such as "I want to be healthier"? Unless you know clearly that you want to have more energy, be stronger, more flexible and resilient, and cough less, you will not be focused enough to find solutions that match your goals. "I want to be healthier" is impetus for creating mission statement. In same way, "We need more profit" is impetus for creating team. Then team goes to work!

Sometimes a team mission statement is straightforward, for example, to recommend best solution to a specific problem and little time is required for all to understand mission. Team members can immediately develop their approach and performance goals. Other times, teams have a fuzzy idea about why they have been brought together and need to make delineating that first order of business.

Teams run things, recommend things or make and do things. Every member needs to know purpose of team, and needs to be able to state it in twenty words or less. How is your team doing?

So gather up your tools, and supplies and begin constructing those stop signs where and when you need them. You’re manager, superintendent of road of your life. Use your authority to become aware and to stop before life pushes just a little too hard. Take your responsibilities and handle them with response-ability. You would be surprised how much easier traffic flows and those annoying minor mishaps just don’t happen as often and they don’t turn into major traffic jams. ENJOY! ©Arleen M. Kaptur 2002 July