BHAG (pronounced BEE-hag) is a term coined by Jim Collins and Jerry Porras in their book Built to Last. It is an acronym for Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal. As part of an organization’s Envisioned Future (Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals and Vivid Descriptions of them), a BHAG represents a stretch-goal for an organization. Unlike an ordinary, operational goal, a BHAG elicits a positive, immediate, gut-level reaction that inspires the members of an organization to take a quantum leap forward. It is broad and lofty – up in the sky, not down in the weeds. It is not bounded by an organization’s current constraints (lack of money, lack of time, lack of staffing, etc.). In fact, it may help an organization to marshal the resources needed to overcome our current constraints and transform itself into something better than it is currently.
The term itself (BHAG) may strike different people in different ways. Some people think it has a playful ring. Others think it sounds unprofessional or awkward. But everyone seems to agree that the term draws attention, which I think is partly the point that Collins and Porras had in mind. A BHAG should grab you by the lapels and make you sit up and take notice. It should inspire and motivate the members of an organization. It should give them a sense of shared purpose. It should help them to align their individual efforts to a common cause over a period of many years. Last but not least, a BHAG should be consistent with an organization’s Core Ideology (its Core Values and its Core Purpose), respecting those ideals that the organization holds dear.
Henry Ford’s BHAG was to “democratize the automobile.” Nike’s was to “crush Adidas.” Stanford University’s was to “become the Harvard of the West.” What is Clinton Community College’s vision-level BHAG? What is it that we want to be in 10 to 30 years? What long-term goal is so powerful that almost all of us could immediately agree that it is worth pursuing, even if there is a chance that we may fall short?
This spring, as we create our shared vision for the future of the College, those are some of the thought-provoking questions on which we will spend time. Keep your eyes and ears open for your opportunity to participate. There have already been several meetings of school district leaders to explore our shared vision for the future. A Community Business Summit involving prominent members of The Development Corporation, the Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce and others is scheduled for this week. On-campus constituents groups – students, faculty and staff – will soon have the opportunity to contribute their thoughts to an online, threaded discussion. And of course, I always welcome your comments via e-mail.
That’s what I think. Please let me know what you think. I invite you to e-mail me at presidentsblog@clinton.edu.
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