We give ourselves a metaphorical ‘pat on the back’ when we complete another item on our ‘to do’ list … and we do the same with our employees. We congratulate them for completing a task or project.

What we should congratulate them for is their achievement – or the impact they have made.

A teacher, for example, who complete a professional development course, has only achieved something if the course results in impact on the learning of students.

The problem is that in recent years we have become more and more compliance oriented – and we have come to delight in tick boxes and ‘sign offs’.

Its time to shift the focus – to achievement and impact.  Much harder – but it is what matters!