Defining Success

It has been one of those weeks. I have been running at full speed in multiple directions, and I find myself at the end of the week questioning, 'Did I accomplish anything? Did I achieve the goals or milestones needed to maintain forward momentum? Was I successful?’ The answer to those questions is dependent on how one defines success. I realize that success is a broad term that leaves room for deeper examination and multiple interpretations. The definition of success is personal, often subjective, and is informed by the filter you use for evaluation (e.g., your values). It is also situational.

For years I have had the quote “what gets measured, gets done” drilled into my head. I cannot recall how often I have uttered this quote–with its unknown authorship–to drive home the importance of clear, strong measures. The notion that the definition of success is deeply personal, subjective, and nuanced may be hard to understand until you sit and reflect on it. And it is the reason we should define success at the start of the journey, not at the end. Without declaring the destination up front, it is difficult to know when you have arrived. I believe this is true whether you are leading an organization, a team, or yourself.

As I sat and considered my personal definition of success, I first acknowledged that it is subjective. I look at success through two lenses: technical success and behavioral success. Technical success = achieving the goal based on the pre-determined measures. Behavioral success = how one goes about achieving the goal. In other words, it is not just about what you do; the way in which you do things also matters.

While one might describe a business that has a healthy bottom line as successful, if this same company struggles with plummeted morale, high turnover, or a negative environment, is that company successful? It depends on your definition of success. As leaders, we need to recognize the importance of showing up in ways that feel right. The emphasis should not solely be on our technical accomplishments. This means we should consider whether there is alignment between our behaviors and our technical success goals. When we measure success through the lens of our purpose or values rather than solely on a singular bottom line, we can obtain true success and find greater fulfillment in our lives.

Was I technically successful this week? Yes. Was I behaviorally successful? Well… I had some moments this week when I was not the best version of myself.

Next week, I will still focus on creating clear metrics for my technical success goals. However, I will also make a little more space to grasp the definition of success attributed to Maya Angelou: “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.”

What does success mean to you?