Happy New Year

2010 is not only a New Year, it will also mark the start of a new decade.
Amazing that it’s been 10 years already since the Millennium.

So I suspect this year, many individuals, even if they have not previously been the enthusiastic “New Year Resolution types”, would be hard pressed not to contemplate about life, work and family and find at least an area they would like to “do something about”.

And now, with the global economy showing signs of a recovery, however fragile naysayers say it may be, many organizations I bet are gearing up for the “upturn” – planning and setting targets & goals, managing expectations from their stakeholders.

One of the programs I facilitate is Performance Management and a common recurring theme that crops up again and again that invariably impacts the entire process, happens right at the front-end of the cycle i.e. proper or rather, the lack of proper goal setting.

So whether we are individuals looking to “do something about” their personal lives - like giving up smoking, exercising more, lose weight, learn a new skill, or a corporation - looking to regain lost market share, to improve on profitability, to improve their customer satisfaction index or reduce manufacturing wastes etc , a key success factor is ensuring the Goal-Setting is done right!

Here are some ways to give you a better shot at success:-

1)Set Realistic and Specific Goals

Trainers oft refer to this as setting SMART goals ie
Specific , Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time Frame

For example, do not set a goal to stop smoking in 4 weeks when you are doing 2 packs a day or say you are going to exercise everyday when you can count the number of days you have excercised in the last 6 months on your hands.

Be realistic – like gradually cutting down to 1.5 packs per day by Chinese New Year or I will schedule to do 1 or 2 half hour sessions a week for January.

2) Write your Goal(s) and Action Plan(s) Down

There is no better or constant reminder for you if your goal is written and visible to you on a daily basis. Not only can it act as motivation to achieve, but also a reminder to act, if you are falling behind.

3) Act – Just Do It® as Nike says!

Do not get obsessed with immediate results – just take it one step at a time, small goals at a time. More importantly, just focus on getting started and keeping the momentum going.

4) Celebrate Success & Reward Yourself

Do not forget to celebrate and reward yourself once your goal (no matter how small) is achieved. An example is to reward yourself with new sports gear after successfully doing 2 half hour sessions of exercise per week during January. Or a new watch from the savings of reducing half a pack a day of cigarettes for 6 months!

Finally, go back and set the next (realistic and specific) goal – perhaps 3 sessions per week for February and March and plan a reward of say a new pair of running/gym/tennis shoes when you achieve that.

Suddenly by Q12010, you find yourself exercising regularly – up to 3 times a week. Or you are down to 1 pack per day, then half a pack by May 2010 and then a ¼ pack by September and just 5 sticks a day by November.

So even if you did not achieve your original goal of stopping smoking in 2010 or exercising daily, the improvement would still be significant and worth celebrating. So then work on improving on 2010 in 2011 and so on.

Invariably, these “smaller” goals amount to a great step forward, even if it was not in the time-line you expected.

Not everyone, or every organization can do quantum leaps. And many fail in trying to do too much too soon.

Juggling your personal, family and work lives is not easy. But isn’t it better to ensure we finish the races we started than not even managing to complete them, even if we were leading the pack at the beginning.

As we spend some time in reflection this New Year’s Eve and as we cast our eyes towards the New Year and New Decade ahead, I wish that you will find your “success(es)” in 2010 and beyond!

I would like to also take this opportunity to thank you for joining my blog journey this past year and especially for your emails with your comments and words of encouragement - I am very appreciative of your support.

Here's Wishing You and your Loved Ones a Blessed and Wonderful holiday season!

Happy New Year !