How targets and indicators can help achieve ‘impossible’ goals
Recently, Eliud Kipchoge ran the marathon in under two hours. This is the first time this has ever been done. As well as the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly running shoes and 41 pace-makers, a support car beamed a green laser mark on the road in front of Kipchoge representing 20 seconds below the two-hour pace. So what time did Kipchoge run the marathon? 1 hour 59 minutes and 40 seconds.
This is a powerful lesson in how targets and indicators can be used to achieve what may seem to be impossible goals. Can this thinking be applied elsewhere?
What about climate change and the SDGs?
Can local targets be set for communities, businesses, cities and countries and live feedback be provided on whether they are being achieved or not?
If this is done we may be able to integrate the urgency of addressing these targets into everyday decisions in a way that creates the level of change required..