Anytime Resolutions

As I reflected on what this, my first blog for Free to Lead, could focus on that could support others in being Free to Lead, I realised that the first year of the Company is drawing to a close. Only 6 weeks to go. While many of my first year goals have been met, finding my voice and sharing it publicly has taken until some 11 months into the year. I could beat myself up about this fact or I could celebrate the fact that I have started because I recognise that goals made at the start of the year can sometimes take time to come to fruition.

Perhaps more importantly, those particular goals that we call New Year’s Resolutions seem to be even more set up to make us feel disappointment as we start with gusto but gradually seem to run out of steam. While New Year’s Resolutions are great for providing a definitive date that enables us to draw a line in the sand and find a burst of new motivation as we say goodbye to the previous year, what can we do to sustain our motivation?

As a leader, goals are likely to be a way of life – for your business, for your department or team, and for you personally. Goals enable business alignment, focus and ultimately business performance. If you are fortunate enough to have found a role that you love,  it is possible that every goal enables you to demonstrate your strengths and provides you with fulfilment that keeps you focused on it. In reality though, all roles have aspects which we find more engaging and fulfilling than others.

So what’s one important ingredient to ensuring you can continue to be motivated to deliver against your goals?

Personal alignment.

By that I mean knowing how delivering against your business goal will support you in achieving your longer term purpose or personal life goals. Unlike New Year Resolutions that rely on the start of the year to be the impetus and motivation, personal alignment is not tied in to a set date for motivation. Personal alignment enables you to be confident that you are heading in the right direction to achieve your longer term aims by meeting shorter term objectives.

So how does this work?

1. You’ll need clarity on your longer term purpose or goals. If you haven’t determined this already, take time to consider what you see for your life ahead in areas such as family, health, social, community as well as financial, career and learning. While your business goal alignment may seem to be most likely to connect with a longer term financial, career or learning goal this is not always the case. A coaching session could help you if you are unsure how to start.
2. Once you have clarity, you need to take some time to consider how your current role enables one or more of your longer term goals. This may be through the learning or experience you will have, through the opportunity to make connections, through the application of specific behaviours or in some other way.
3. Finally, consider the individual business goal and how fulfilling it will bring you closer to one of your longer term goals.

Achieving such personal alignment and reflecting on it regularly can provide you with added momentum to overcome the tough times. Much like New Year Resolutions, you will likely find times when it is harder to make progress – you are human and as humans none of us are perfect. Acknowledging what you have already achieved, as well as the fact that you are off track and determining why, can help before you check back in to your alignment.

• Do you still see how achieving your business goal supports you in achieving your personal, longer term goal?
• Do you need to adapt the way in which you are fulfilling your business goal so that you can achieve a successful outcome for your organisation and for you?

If you are a line manager involved in scoping and setting goals with your team members, what conversation might you have with your team member to help them see how meeting their business goal can support their longer term personal aims?

Finally, I don’t really believe in New Year’s Resolutions. It’s not because I don’t think setting goals can be of benefit but simply because I believe ‘Anytime’ Resolutions provide more freedom to lead the life that you choose for yourself, whenever you choose. So what are you waiting for?

If you know someone who might benefit from coaching or mentoring support for any of the areas touched on in the above, please email or call for an exploratory conversation.