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I read an interesting New Year’s blog recently where the author spoke of focusing on a word for the New Year, and not so much on resolutions. One of the greatest challenges we face with resolutions is that we usually feel the pressure of the moment to set them.
Plans like these usually fall by the wayside very quickly simply because they are not thought through, there is no intention behind them and there is no clearly defined action plan to help you meet these new goals.
I had another interesting conversation with a person recently promoted to a management position. We were speaking about their new management role and how they were going to tackle the fine art of managing their new team.
One of the first actions this person put in place was to get their new team members to completed a vision board compiled of short, medium and log term goals. Quite an odd action as it does not relate directly to their day-to-day responsibilities of selling. However, explained this person, in the sales context they found this to be the most valuable task for team members to complete. Their rationale was that salespeople work well when they are able to visualize a goal. Something tangible and something that they really want. While target are required, their physical visions and goals are desired.
This mentality works well in any situation, not just a sales context. We work harder for the things we can visualize and for the things we desire. Put these in front of our noses and we lurch forward eager to reach a point where these visions can be realized and met.
Heading back to the blog I read, the author spoke this year of the fact that they were not setting any resolutions this year. For the reasons already listed, they had decided to steer clear of setting themselves up for failure.
Now, please don’t get me wrong! I am all for goal setting and vision-forming habits. These, however, have to be created in a structured way, and not standing in the middle of a party claiming to chain the world, champagne glass in hand. Goals (which is really what resolutions are) need to be created carefully, thoughtfully and intentionally. They need to be accompanied by an action plan, with structured mini-milestones that are easily obtainable – and that encourage us to keep going towards that final goal.
The author of this blog spoke of choosing a words this year, and making that word their focus. They chose the word “extra-ordinary”. They wanted this word to permeate every area of their lives this year. They wanted this word to define the situation in which they found themselves.
You see, by focusing on the word, the goal (and actions) follow. The word is linked closely to the intention of how you want your year to go. You will, in situations, focus on ways to make that word live, to give it legs and to ensure you are constantly working towards including it.
The resulting (and inevitable) result is – action. It is the act of constantly moving forward, shifting a mindset, striving to ensure the word appears in your daily narrative.
What a great way to approach the idea of New Year’s resolutions!
So, what word do you want to see appear in your life-story this year?
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