Did you know that an airplane in flight is off course nearly 98% of the time? No flight is completed in a straight line from Point A to Point B. Gravity, side winds, updrafts, and downdrafts are continually moving the plane off course. And yet, the majority of flights arrive at their planned destinations safely and on time. How do airline pilots make this happen? They continually keep the outcome or result in mind, say departing from Los Angeles and arriving in Honolulu. Pilots constantly make corrections to compensate for outside forces affecting the plane and use a proven set of process steps to keep everything on course.

Closer to home, how can you, as the pilot of your business assure that you are on time, within budget, and at the quality standards necessary 100% of the time? One important step is to focus on the outcomes you are aiming for.

Whether it is a pilot flying a jet liner from LA to Honolulu or you streamlining a process in your business, focusing on outcomes will increase the odds of success. Any time you are working to improve a process it is important to make sure that everyone involved in the process:

-- Shares the same goals of the process

-- Understands their individual role in the process (job procedures, etc.)

-- Has the performance support and skill/knowledge development required to perform their individual role

-- Understands what the gap is that is being closed (we are here, we want to get there, here is how we will do it)

Just as the pilot constantly evaluates his/her course corrections (wind speed, altitude, etc.) you will measure results of your improvements and assess whether or not you are still on your course of performance improvement.

Dan Strakal

Dr. Dan Strakal is the host of the weekly radio program Business Buzz With Dr. Dan where listeners learn strategies to take their businesses and careers to the next level. He has been an expert on the changing workplace, business life, and career transition for nearly 20 years. Dan acts as a trusted client advisor and consultant within the corporate sector, government agencies, civic organizations, small businesses, and educational institutions. He also provides business, executive and career consulting, coaching and workshops for individual clients. He is the coauthor of and contributor to two books, Better Job Search in 3 Easy Steps: The Easy Way To Jumpstart A Career and Better Job Skills in 3 Easy Steps: The Easy Way To Develop Job Skills. During his career, Dan has held several executive positions in industry and government as well as high-level administrator and faculty positions in higher education. Dan is a member of the National Speakers Association and is on the Board of Directors of the Career Planning and Adult Development Network. He is a Certified International Job and Career Transition Coach and is standing member in the American Management Association, the Society for Human Resource Management, the American Society for Training and Development, and the Project Management Institute. He is often called upon by the national and international media as a featured workplace and business issues expert. A summary of recent appearances includes The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, Self Magazine, SmartMoney.com, Computerworld, Parents Magazine, Diversity Inc. Magazine, Chief Information Officer (Australia?s Magazine for Information Executives), Entrepreneur Magazine Home Based Business Show, the Radio America Program: News You Can Use, ABC and NBC radio affiliates, KBS Radio Canada and many other media outlets. Dan is a frequently requested speaker and consultant for corporations, small- and medium-sized businesses, educational institutions, professional associations, and other venues. A summary of recent clients includes Toyota Corporation, AT&T, Lovelace Health System, the Western Energy Institute, Molina Healthcare, the State of New Mexico, Accenture, Ltd., the United States Department of Energy, the International Association of Workplace Professionals, the NW Biotech Expo, the University of Notre Dame, and many other organizations.