3 Ways to Set Goals for Successs

It’s so hard to believe that December is upon us and the last days of 2019. In hindsight, it seems that the year has gone by so quickly. Before you know it, a new year and decade will be upon us. This is always the time for renewed spirit and goal setting to accomplish the ‘bucket list.’

Having a plan to start off the new year will allow you to enjoy the holidays.

Now is the time to begin planning and setting goals; however, there is still 31 days  to end the year off accomplished; it’s never too late to achieve your goals and finish strong. Sometimes it’s not which goals you set but how you set them, as you want to make them so compelling that you just have to work to get them done.

Here are 3 ways to set compelling goals:

  1. Past achievements – remember a time when you did achieve   something you wanted and how you did it – we often forget that we’ve accomplished goals in the past, as they now are easy or part of our routine; do you remember the first time you tried to ride a bike? remember how ‘hard’ it was? But yet you did it. Looking back on past achievements can help you to open up and get creative in your goals
  2. Everest goals – focus on the end-result – you already have reached your goal – and then work backwards to identify all the steps it took for you to get there. I love this way of setting goals, as it gets you into futuring and tapping into your visuals so you can ‘see’ you already accomplished; I find I get more creative while this also raises my emotional level to make my goals more compelling.  Create a visual representation to keep the goal in front of you, such as drawing a map with your goal at the top and free-think actionable steps that took you there
  3. Pain-Gain – another way to set goals is by looking at the benefit you will get, and the risk for not, for having them. By looking at the gain you will get by having the goal, can help you determine the ‘strength’ of that goal, and give you the motivation you need. Also, looking at the current pain by not having the goal also gives you a differing perspective to realize what is missing, i.e. why you need that goal, which, again, makes you want to do the work needed.

However, you set goals, the important point is that you have them as there are many benefits to them. Set them for parts of your life, as well as in your job and career. Think big – don’t be afraid to be as creative as you want; in fact, make your goals so big that you have to go for them. Planning ahead will give you peace of mind while providing direction each day. Now, you can savor these last days of 2019 and end your year well!

Committed to Your Success Coaching & Consulting focuses on workplace happiness and organizational success. If you need help gaining clarity on your business or career goals, why not get some help – stop the struggle and call today to get started! https://www.cyscoaching.com or barbara@cyscoaching.com

New Month and Goal Planning to End/Start the New Year Right

We are just a few days away from the start of a another new month – hard to believe we’re almost  done with 2019 and a new year – and decade – will begin. Where has the time gone?

I love a new month as it brings renewed hope and the opportunity for creating new ideas and actions, i.e. goals, to work on. This is the time to take stock of how things have been going on the goals you set back in January, which is almost here again.

You still have one month take massive action and achieve your unmet goals. Planning for the new year should be on your agenda, as well,  so you can hit the ground running after the holidays are over and with passion to do so.

This  is the time to assess your current state, to see if you’re satisfied with where you are and, if not, to change that. You won’t know where things are if you don’t truly make an overall assessment of your life, in the following areas:

  • career
  • relationships
  • finances
  • hobbies/fun/recreation
  • physical environment
  • health
  • personal growth & development
  • time management and productivity

These are the main areas, although there may be others, to identify what is working or not.  In each of these, ask yourself:

  • how satisfied you are (you can rate on a Likert scale, from 1-5, or 1-10)
  • do you feel uneasy when you delve into any of these area; if so, there is an issue that needs to be addressed as it could be holding you back from success
  • what is working well in each area; what are the strengths you possess that is leading to positive achievement
  • what is not working well in each area; what is your responsibility/choices that have led to being stalled; are there any outside influences as contributing factors
  • what changes do you want/need to make that would lead to feeling satisfied in each area; what do you want/need to continue doing, if you are satisfied

These questions will give you the big picture of how all areas of your life are going. Armed with this information, you can now break each area down and continue asking the questions until you get to the bottom line for where you want the rest of the month/year to go, ala set new goals.

Ask yourself if you want to be in the same spot as you are now for each of those areas above; if the answer is no in any of them, then this  is where your goal planning should begin.What will you do differently to make them happen?

Goal planning takes time and effort, but aren’t you worth it? Start today to create the roadmap for your life – it’s never too late!

The Art of Being Thankful

 

Being thankful for all that we possess is essential to opening our hearts and minds, as it takes the focus off of all that we believe we don’t have and shows us that we do. This practice alone has been rated as the #2 way to raise happiness, for when we focus on our negatives we can’t ‘see’ any positives; and we will attract more negative in our lives.

 

You can blame your left brain for this; isn’t it time to get into the right where positivity and optimism live?

 

This is why gratitude and giving thanks is crucial. But it needs to be done consistently so it will become a good habit.

 

When we take the focus off of the negatives, and put it to seeing the positives, this is where the magic happens.

 

Being positive and optimistic creates good feelings to emerge and your focus will go towards now seeing only the good; the negatives won’t seem so catastrophic and you will do what it takes to handle them.

 

The Solution

One solution is  cheap and easy to do:  create a “Gratitude Jar.”

 

You might be asking, what this is and how will it lead me to being more positive; well, because we often tend to focus on the things we don’t want or don’t have in our lives we are actually attracting them.

 

This can lead to having a ‘victim’ mentality, as if life is unkind or throwing you lemons and not lemonade.

 

Creating a Gratitude Jar, that you fill daily, will show you that there is good in your life; you will now be more appreciative of them and work to keep them and/or improve upon them. Your brain chemicals will alter, leading to enhanced feelings of appreciation, happiness, and optimism.

 

It doesn’t matter if you use a jar, a box (my preferred method), a basket or other vessel to capture your thoughts.  The important thing is that you do.

 

To create your gratitude jar, here are some steps to begin – it is actually a fun activity (your kids might love this):

 

  1. Get a jar  and decorate it by using paints, markers, pictures or stickers.  Label it, either “My Gratitude Jar”, “My Daily Thanks” or “My Thankful Life” as suggestions.

 

  1. Have small slips of paper – I use post-it notes – and a marker; these are where you can write down your daily thanks.  It is important to remember to give thanks for all that you have, no matter how big or small; it could be as simple that you have life or that you ate the salad instead of that piece of cake.  The little things help to make you more aware of all good in your life. Be sure to also write down what you are thankful for about you – compliments you hear, strengths, skills, or natural abilities, or positive actions you take towards others – these will lead to increase self-love and confidence.

 

  1. Put these in a place that is accessible and visual to see; this will help to get you in the mode of filling the jar as well as enhancing your awareness of your great life.

 

The only other step is to commit to taking action on this and being consistent; I recommend writing at least three things daily or as you are more aware.  One thing that is in my box – I am thankful for all of you and feel blessed to have you as a part of my life.

 

 Action Plan

 

Make this week your official “Gratitude Week.”  Make your jar and begin filling it on a daily basis.  Pay it forward by passing the idea on to those in your circle so their lives are equally enhanced.  Be sure to pay attention to how your attitude and your life changes.

As a client of mine, who has been practicing her gratitude says: ‘Gratitude makes everything turn into a gift.”

I hope you have a successful week – If you need help gaining clarity on your business or career goals, or in developing your action plan, why not get some help – stop the struggle and call today to get started. I’d love to help you build the career and business of your dreams!

 

Are you Leading from the Front or Back?

Leadership is so critical today. Poor leadership is one of the top reasons for employee disengagement and turnover. Many who get into leader roles often do so through attrition or are put into their roles in a quick manner. But are they truly prepared for the role?

I don’t think most who aspire for a leader role truly take the time to decide on the type of leader they want to be and determine the skills and traits they want to portray. Especially considering that people follow those who they identify with, i.e. traits, or characteristics. This means that those already in this role have a responsibility to self-assess and ensure they are portraying skills attributed to leadership, such as drive, determination, integrity, and sociability (Northouse, 2010).

 

Those who aspire, or are new in leader role, can also do the same and work to develop their skills. One other area is to know is if you are leading from the front or the back. I had a client who was fairly new in their role and discussed that they needed to lead from the back, feeling that leading from the front was a negative position. I’m not sure this person understood the meaning but it did give me pause and consideration.

The client felt that leading from the front means it’s all about them and their needs, and does not take individual workers into consideration, while leading from the back means that the leader takes a ‘back seat’ and let’s employees steer the ship. I don’t know if either of these is correct, although I think it depends on one’s point-of-view.

To lead from the front, in my opinion, is to be the guide for workers; leaders set work goals and then allow their people to work autonomously while providing support and encouragement. Daniel Pink, in his book Drive (2010), says that autonomy is one of three motivators that drive performance (the others being purpose and mastery). Front leaders don’t abdicate their power but they don’t use it to be oppressive (micromanaging).

Leading from the back, to me, means the leader allows their people to shine while being there to uplift and help to problem-solve, as needed. The best leaders I’ve worked for have led from both the front and the back – they’ve recognized the strengths and skills of their workers and allowed them to work in their own way, which got work done faster and with more quality; they were there to motivate through affirmations and recognition. These leaders are often comfortable being in the background but their presence is felt by all. Essentially, their ego does not get in the way but they know their position.

Whether you are in a formal leadership position or not, you are leading in some form or fashion, i.e. leader in your family, leader in a group you belong to, leader of yourself). Take time to be more aware of how you are leading in both your work and your life – these skills apply not just in one area so it means you need to recognize and use them to  be a leader. Keep developing your skills – read, work to master them, and look to inspire others to do their best; this is truly leading from the front!

Committed to Your Success Coaching & Consulting focuses on workplace happiness and organizational success. If you need help gaining clarity on your business or career goals, why not get some help – stop the struggle and call today to get started! https://www.cyscoaching.com or barbara@cyscoaching.com

How To be a Leader in Your Workplace: 5 Skills to Get You There

How to Be a Leader in Your Workplace: 5 Skills to Get You There

Many jobs require that employees be “team players.” You may hear that so often that it becomes meaningless. But it isn’t – being a team player is a fairly broad term, and it can include an important attribute that employers appreciate: leadership.

Being a leader in the workplace does not necessarily mean being a boss, manager, supervisor, or other “official” position, although it can mean that. Being a leader in the workplace can also mean setting a good example for others and/or heading up office programs and projects. Assuming the role of a leader might come easily for some people, while for others not so much.

 

I’m sure you’ve seen them (perhaps you’ve been one) – the employee who things seem to come to easily; you pick up skills quickly, achieve daily tasks timely, and people gravitate to them. These individuals are the ones who get promoted quickly or get more notice by upper management. What is it about them? Sometimes they naturally possess the right aptitude and skills but they also continually work on their own development, both personally and professionally.

 

Here are some tips and ideas that you can begin to work on, to follow the example of these high achievers, and how to be a leader in the workplace, so you get noticed and have more job satisfaction and engagement in the work you do:

 

  1. Be Confident

 

There’s a saying that can serve you well in the workplace: “Never let them see you sweat.” Of course, no one is perfect; but appearing confident inspires others to trust you and take your advice. One way to ensure that you appear self-assured is not to talk too much about your fears and concerns. Talk to friends outside of the workplace about your uncertainties. Identifying and owning your strengths and values will lead to self-belief and more confident. As simple as it sounds, walk with confidence – pull your shoulders back, or put your hands on your hips and see how much more empowered you feel.

 

See the Good in Others

 

Being able to see the good traits in others is a useful leadership trait in the workplace. If you need to put certain people in charge of certain tasks, it pays to know who will do well with what task. You also may see potential in a co-worker and “stretch” him or her by requesting a task that might be a bit challenging. This improves the overall skill set of the workforce, and helps build self-esteem in your co-workers. It also can lead to forming better relationships among team members so more gets done, which is something good leaders do.

 

Don’t Be Afraid to Delegate

 

There’s a difference between being a people person and being a people pleaser. Being a people person means you have a genuine love for people, but you’re not afraid to ask people to do things. Being a leader doesn’t mean just doing everything yourself; it means you are comfortable giving up some control and delegating tasks to others. Confident leaders aren’t afraid to let go and allow their staff to take over and lead.

 

Appreciate Co-Workers

 

No one wants to work for or with someone who doesn’t appreciate them. If you let everyone know you appreciate what they’ve done and how they’ve given their time and talents, it can go a long way. It’s always good to remember that there would be no leaders if there weren’t any followers. People who are appreciated may be more likely to follow your lead next time. Being recognized is something we all desire and leads to more satisfaction and overall happiness.

 

Problem Solving

 

If you step up with ideas on how to solve dilemmas, problems, and so forth, and have resourceful ideas about how to accomplish something, then speak up. Employers value the ability to think through a problem and find a creative solution. This is a valuable leadership quality as it shows you are part of a team and thinking of how to meet the needs of both customers and the organization overall.

 

These traits are highly desired by organizations as it puts the one who displays them in the high performing category, something which organizations invest in.

 

 

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