Give Your Goals a Powerful Spring Clean!

It’s late-March, and you know what that means? It’s time to check in on those New Year’s Resolutions you made with such determination back in January. How are they going? Have you been crushing your goals, or have they become a distant memory?

If you’re feeling like you’re not quite where you want to be, don’t worry, you’re not alone. But before you throw in the towel, let’s consider our options:

• Option 1: Concede defeat and give up. Boring!
• Option 2: Chide yourself for not doing better, and then give up. Double boring!
• Option 3: Chide yourself, do better for a few days, and then give up again. Yawn.
• Or…Option 4: Find a new towel! Now we’re talking.

Instead of beating yourself up for not sticking to your original plans, consider revising them. Maybe the goals you set for yourself weren’t quite right for you. For example, committing to a gym membership and working out three times a week when you haven’t exercised in years might not be the most realistic goal. (Spoken from my own experience!)

Instead, start small and build up. Set a target to do some physical activity for just 30 minutes twice a week, and celebrate each time you achieve it. You’ll be surprised how quickly those 30 minutes turn into 40, then an hour, and before you know it, you’re crushing that gym membership like a boss. (personal update, I have been back at Orange Theory twice a week for the last month. Next month I plan to go three times a week – Go Me!)

The same goes for work-related goals. If you’re looking to achieve a promotion, take a step back and break this down into smaller components. Why do you want the promotion? What skills do you have? Who knows you have those skills? By answering these questions, you can set achievable goals, like networking with one new person each week or creating an informal skills inventory.

Here are three steps to breathe new life into your goals

1. Be SMART: We’ve all heard of the acronym SMART, now’s the time to use it. Be specific about what you want to achieve, when you want to achieve it, and what metrics you will use to measure your progress. This can help ensure your goals are achievable, they are relevant, and you remain focused on achieving them in a realistic timeframe.
2. Create a plan and stick to it: Once you have set your goals, create a plan of action to achieve them. Break down your goals into smaller, manageable steps and prioritize them based on their importance. Set deadlines for each step and hold yourself accountable to completing them on time. Regularly review your progress and adjust your plan as needed.
3. Take ownership of your development: Don’t wait for your others to invest in your professional development. Take ownership of your own development by seeking out opportunities to learn and grow. This could include taking courses, attending conferences, networking with others in your industry, or seeking out a mentor. By investing in your own development, you are taking control of your career and positioning yourself for success.

Bonus Steps

1. Create a vision board: A vision board is a visual representation of your goals and aspirations. It can include images, words, and phrases that inspire you and represent the things you want to achieve in your career. A daily reminder of what you are working towards can be a powerful conscious and subconscious motivator and influence what you focus your time and efforts on. I
2. Gamify your goals: Turn achieving your goals into a game by creating a point system or reward system. Remember the star charts at school? this is the grownup equivalent. When I first started SkyeTeam I would color in a chart each time a new client agreed to partner with us. It was a fun way to measure progress (had I replaced my corporate salary) and ended up being a live vision board that made the process of achieving our business goals more fun and engaging.
3. Use a accountability partner: Ae you know, we love relationships at work, and when it comes to achieving our goals there’s nothing better than achieving them with someone else. Find an accountability partner who shares similar goals and regularly check in with each other to share progress updates and provide support and encouragement. This can be a friend, coworker, or mentor who can hold you accountable and help keep you on track towards your goals.

Over to You:

So, instead of abandoning your New Year’s Resolutions, take this as an opportunity to revisit your goals and revise them. Remember, the goal of goals is to push yourself and achieve something, not to feel overwhelmed and defeated.

And if all else fails, find a new towel! Good luck, and let me know how it goes.