A personal governance charter
INDIVIDUALS may be persuaded to observe the personal governance discipline in the domains of their personal life. They may specify a few key strategic initiatives to pursue; a performance measure to use for assessing progress; and a performance target to attain for any given year.
Observance of a strict governance discipline, however, can be dreary. It would require a struggle, one which needs to be carried out day in and day out. This may be essential; however, many individuals also find the need for “something” that will help them sustain their struggle.
That “something” is once again the big picture they need to have in very clear terms about their entire life, and more specifically their life of work. The big picture is painted in bold strokes by the following:
• Personal Vision. Individuals have to ask themselves, what is it that I want to accomplish in 5 years? The question may be framed somewhat differently: what do I want to become in about 5 years’ time; or simply, what do I dream of achieving within that time frame of 5 years or so?
• Personal Mission. This question, which individuals are encouraged to confront and answer, takes them way beyond a mere 5-year time horizon. It asks: at the end of a life time of work, what positive difference do I expect to make in the world around me? Or more dramatically, at the end of my life, what may I be known for as my distinctive contribution to family, friends, and community?
• Personal Core Values. It is essential for individuals to think deeply and get to one’s personal core, and there discover the deepest convictions they personally hold and believe in, and wish to hang on to. This need not be a litany. Indeed, a focus on three personal core values, for as long as they represent one’s personal ideals, by which they wish their life to be shaped and formed, is highly recommended.
The bigger picture, drawn by the “better spirits” that every individual has, can provide cohesion and encouragement to the day-today struggle to observe personal governance discipline. Somehow, this bigger picture helps pull all the initiatives, performance measurements, and performance targets together; it helps provide sense, meaning, and direction to them.
Then, there too is the encouragement and motivational aspect that the bigger picture gives. Precisely because individuals have a clear dream of what they wish to accomplish, and a life-long mission they need to carry out, then they should find the needed motivation and continuing encouragement to keep struggling and observing personal governance discipline, so as to better align their work and all the domains of their life with their personal core values.
A personal governance charter can be a powerful tool placed at the hands of individuals who keep trying to become good governance assets in the enterprise where they work.