Putting the GO in Your Goals

Putting the Go in Your Goals

It’s January again, a natural time of year to evaluate your goals. Too frequently, New Year’s resolutions fall by the wayside with the last of the holiday spirit. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Your resolutions or New Year’s goals, if clear, realistic, and truly important to you, can be achieved.

From a business perspective, we know that most people who are directly responsible for results, find it valuable to set goals. And truly meaningful goal achievement often means following guidelines for raising the probability of accomplishment. Read on for just a few of the ideas that may be different from what you’ve considered before when setting your goals for a new year.

Check the real importance of what you are doing. Sometimes, this is the most difficult question to address. But believing the value of what we do provides the “get up and go” for when we feel discouraged and tired. A recent client sent me these questions, the essence of which is found in the book, The Path of the Everyday Hero. Consider, what is the purpose of your life? What are you meant to be contributing while on earth? What activities give you a sense of meaning? How content are you with the professional side of your life? What makes you feel valuable? Is there a connection between your goal achievement in work and what makes you feel most valuable?

The man who sent me these is a living example of the value of giving serious attention to these philosophical questions. It is clear from watching and working with him that he is comfortable with himself. Whether engaged in social conversation, part of a team meeting, or working on his own, this executive is grounded and purposeful in pursuing his goals.

Check the reality of what you are doing. Frequently, when I’m told that an individual is not achieving a particular goal, I suggest that four questions be asked. You may find it helpful to ask the same questions of yourself. Is your goal clearly defined? Do you understand what needs to be done? Do you have the resources in terms time, energy, money, equipment, and people to accomplish it? Do you have the desire to work towards it?

Recently, I was working with the executive board of a nonprofit organization. The president of the group told me that two members were not contributing what he had expected. At a retreat, we positioned the opportunity for each Board member to comment on his/her contribution. Both of the Board members that concerned the president spoke up. One clearly stated that he knew that he hadn’t done much, but didn’t know what was expected. The other established that he hadn’t had the time to keep his Board commitments. However, both indicated a desire to do more and received feedback to help make that happen. In both cases, it was a valuable exercise to check the reality of the commitment.

Check your mental meter. How clear, sharp, and valuable is your thinking? If you recognize that your mental and physical energy is lagging, check your level of busyness against what is adding value to accomplishing your goals. As our performance bar for goal achievement rises, so does the need for our mental and physical sharpness. Activity that fills every moment weakens our mental alacrity and our fortitude. Evaluate your activity with a critical eye to what adds value.

A client who is a highly placed dean in a university setting finds that she must reevaluate the busyness that consumes her days on a regular basis. She was initially moved into a position to increase the number of admissions. It was a tough, arduous and detailed assignment in the first twelve months. Every one of her minutes, while working long hours, was fiercely dedicated to the goal of increased admissions. She worked diligently to correct systems, put new systems in place, and to recruit and train qualified staff. She made her numbers. The president was delighted with her results. Now, however, after this mighty effort, her physical and mental energy is lagging. She is having back problems, ongoing respiratory illnesses, and it takes more mental energy to do the same amount of work. It’s time for her to evaluate what can be delegated or dumped so that she regains the mental strength needed for the next demanding goal.

Goal setting- so easy to do, more challenging to execute. But it’s the goal achievement that energizes and positions us for the next piece of effort. Put the go in your goals by the wise investment of your time and energy.

By Susan B. Wilson, President, Executive Strategies