THE QUESTION
Canada's Olympic flop?
Canada appears to have fallen far short of its goal of "Owning the Podium" at the Vancouver Olympics. How can leaders know the difference between a "stretch" goal that inspires people to reach new heights and an unattainable goal that winds up demoralizing people?
Posted by Steve Pearlstein and Raju Narisetti on February 25, 2010 7:44 AM
FROM THE PANEL
'Own the Podium,' vindicated
Canadians and Canadian athletes have been wildly energized setting Winter Olympic history in winning gold medals, and that wouldn't have happened with the "Own the Podium" strategy. have happened without setting the Own the Podium goal.
Posted by Roger Martin, on March 1, 2010 6:10 AM
Right aspirations, wrong definition
The mistake the Canadians made was not that they had higher aspirations for success; it was their definition of success.
Posted by Katherine Tyler Scott, on February 26, 2010 3:53 PM
Out of step for Canada
The goal of dominating the Olympics doesn't match the usual style of our neighbors to the north.
Posted by Yash Gupta, on February 25, 2010 3:47 PM
Don't strive like Toyota
Stretch goals are fine as long as they reinforce an organization's purpose and there is no down-side for failing to meet them.
Posted by Michael Maccoby, on February 25, 2010 10:55 AM
A safe stretch
Winning medals at the Olympics isn't a stretch goal -- it's the only goal!
Posted by Lisa Larson, on February 25, 2010 10:48 AM
Moments of excellence
Demoralization comes from feeling fear and doubt. It does not come from having high goals.
Posted by Coro Fellows, on February 25, 2010 12:33 AM
Save & Share:
lemoip: Canada's Olympic Flop? You can't be serious. If you are going to hold the Olympic games, you have to try and win them. That's what the Own t...
hackattack22: Canada's Olympic Flop? Nope. Perhaps a program with an out-of-character name, but the program was meant to inspire, while it funded elite an...
