Lets Learn to Use AGO

Aims, Goals, Objectives

Graeme Allan Cavendish Training (UK), Lithuania

Cavendish Training (UK)

Lets Learn to Use AGO

The aim, goal and objective of this lesson is to explore the idea of purpose.

Dr Edward de Bonos New Thinking

Lets Learn to Use AGO

The identification of purpose is one of the most difficult aspects of thinking.

Dr Edward de Bonos New Thinking

Lets Learn to Use AGO

The main idea of the AGO is to focus directly and deliberately on the intentions behind actual or proposed actions. Identifying reasons alone is the easy and less productive option.

Dr Edward de Bonos New Thinking

Lets Learn to Use AGO

Being able to define objectives helps our thinking in these areas: Decision-making. Planning. Action of any kind that has a distinct purpose, a clear outcome.

Dr Edward de Bonos New Thinking

Lets Learn to Use AGO

Aim Aim is the intended direction. Goal Goal is the ultimate destination. Objective Objective is an identifiable point of achievement along the way.

Dr Edward de Bonos New Thinking

Lets Learn to Use AGO

We can do something out of habit, because everyone else is is doing it, or as a reaction to a situation. These are because situations.

Dr Edward de Bonos New Thinking

Lets Learn to Use AGO

But there are times when we do something in order to achieve some purpose or objective. This purpose or objective is a personal choice.

Dr Edward de Bonos New Thinking

Lets Learn to Use AGO

It can help to understand other peoples thinking if we can see their objectives. In certain situations, the words, aims and goals are more appropriate than objectives even if the meaning is similar.

Dr Edward de Bonos New Thinking

Lets Learn to Use AGO

The foundation of this lesson is to encourage the learner to see the value of asking three questions: What is the aim of the thinking we are doing? What is the intention of our thinking? What do we hope to achieve?

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Dr Edward de Bonos New Thinking

Lets Learn to Use AGO

When exploring aims, goals and objectives, the C&S should be included in the thinking process: Is the action of immediate consequence? Is the action of short-term consequence? Is the action of medium-term consequence? Is the action of long-term consequence?

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Dr Edward de Bonos New Thinking

Lets Learn to Use AGO

Similarly, the PMI should play its part: What are the Plus Factors if we take this action? What are the Minus Factors if we take this action? What are the Interesting Possibilities if we take this action?

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Dr Edward de Bonos New Thinking

Lets Learn to Use AGO

A little more difficult is the requirement to put oneself in the shoes of another person, to adopt another point of view, to step outside oneself for a time in order to more effectively consider that persons or those peoples viewpoint(s).

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Dr Edward de Bonos New Thinking

Lets Learn to Use AGO

A further focus of AGO is to direct attention to purpose as opposed to reaction to another point of view. Too often we are guilty of reactive thinking rather than design thinking, the generation of possibilities. The PMI is an effective tool for dealing with the risks of reactive thinking.

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Dr Edward de Bonos New Thinking

Lets Learn to Use AGO

The contention that people tend to act in ways that contributes to the gratification of their personal needs further explains the value of the AGO Thinking Tool.

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Dr Edward de Bonos New Thinking

Lets Learn to Use AGO

Setting goals is a function of the autonomous individual, the individual who is motivated to live. Needing to know but being fearful of knowing is a symptom of insecurity.

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Dr Edward de Bonos New Thinking

Lets Learn to Use AGO

Learning to Be involves a continuous re-evaluation of our needs. That implies the regular resetting of goals for ourselves as well as accepting that others do the same, even if their goals and objectives are different.

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Dr Edward de Bonos New Thinking

Lets Learn to Use AGO

The AGO encourages the autonomous thinker to ask: What are my goals and why am I choosing them? What are their goals and why are they choosing them?

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Dr Edward de Bonos New Thinking

Lets Learn to Use AGO

Teamwork

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Dr Edward de Bonos New Thinking

Lets Learn to Use AGO

Different people have different objectives with regard to food. Do an AGO on the following people: a restaurant cook. a grocer. a food manufacturer. a dietician. the government.

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Dr Edward de Bonos New Thinking

Lets Learn to Use AGO

A developer who is building a large new shopping centre has the objective of making a profit for his corporation and for himself. He also has the objective of putting up a shopping centre that will be safe and aesthetically pleasing . He must have the objective of satisfying the majority of shoppers.

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Dr Edward de Bonos New Thinking

Lets Learn to Use AGO

He must have the objective of fitting in with the planning authorities. In addition, he has the objective of working so well (on time and within the budget) that he will be asked to develop more shopping centres in other places.

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Dr Edward de Bonos New Thinking

Lets Learn to Use AGO

If you know exactly what your objectives are, it is often easier to achieve them.

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Dr Edward de Bonos New Thinking

Lets Learn to Use AGO

In the same situation or circumstances, people may have different objectives.

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Dr Edward de Bonos New Thinking

Lets Learn to Use AGO

On the way to a final objective, there may be a chain of smaller objectives, each one following on from the previous one.

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Dr Edward de Bonos New Thinking

Lets Learn to Use AGO

Objectives should be near enough, real enough and possible enough for a person to believe it is quite possible to achieve them.

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Dr Edward de Bonos New Thinking

Lets Learn to Use AGO

There may be many objectives but some are more important than others.

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Dr Edward de Bonos New Thinking

Lets Learn to Use AGO

We need to accept that the aims, goals and objectives of someone else are rarely exactly the same as ours.

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Dr Edward de Bonos New Thinking

Lets Learn to Use AGO

Apply the AGO principles in association with other relevant tools such as PMI, CAF or C&S.

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Dr Edward de Bonos New Thinking

Lets Learn to Use AGO

Apply the AGO knowing that, for your self and for others, individual choice is both accepted and respected.

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Dr Edward de Bonos New Thinking

Lets Learn to Use AGO

The AGO tool gives definite attention to the aims, goals and objectives of others, without judgement.

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Dr Edward de Bonos New Thinking

Lets Learn to Use AGO

Graeme Allan Kaunas 2010

Dr Edward de Bonos New Thinking