en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en id en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en tr en en en en en en en en en en sv en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en fa en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en
It’s January.  It’s your first week back after a holiday weekend.  The Christmas lights are coming down, everything seems grey, and, worse still, HR is bugging you to write your goals for 2018.  If you’re like most people, the thought of writing your goals seems paralyzing, if not downright counterproductive, since you already have so many emails to respond to.
The biggest problem with goals is that they can seem overwhelming.  Whether it’s a New Year’s resolution to lose 20 lbs, or to write your new Code of Conduct, the day-to-day mechanics of completing your goals done can seem daunting.  Frequently people either over-promise (and then under-deliver) or fail to write their goals at all.  Later, in March, someone from HR calls imploring that it must be done this week or else your bonus will be withheld.  How can we make this process easier?  Try these three strategies.
Steve Harvey’s Dad used to say, “Inch by inch, everything’s a cinch.”  Instead of focusing on the mountain ahead of you, think about what you can accomplish this month, or this quarter, then multiply it by 6, or even 12.  Think you can perform one webinar training in the next two months?  Great!  Commit to doing 6 by the end of the year.  By thinking about what you already know you can accomplish, you can make your goals realistic.
Your calendar reminder function is one of the best tools for accomplishing your goals.  Set a reminder for a period of time before your goal is due, then use the “Snooze” function until you can dismiss the reminder because the goal is accomplished.  Let’s use the example of completing 6 webinar training sessions by the end of the year.  Schedule your reminder to appear seven days before the last day of every other month.  You’ll see your reminder before the goal is due, and be able to snooze it until you can dismiss it.  This system will help you to complete the micro-goals you’ve set, so that, at the end of the year, the cumulative effect is a fully accomplished set of goals.
Choose at least one Easy Win
Don’t make every goal a stretch goal.  You want to feel a sense of accomplishment early in the year.  Money guru Dave Ramsey implores people to get out of debt using the “snowball method” where the smallest debts are paid off first, regardless of interest rates.  His method is based on the fact that people are more likely to stick to a program when they see themselves achieving early success.  So, if you choose one goal you know you can accomplish quickly, you’ll set yourself up to successfully more on to the more difficult goals you’ve set for yourself.
Worst case scenario?  If you don’t hit your stretch goals, you’ll still have accomplished at least one goal, which will go a long way toward keeping HR (and your manager / C-Suite) happy at the end of the year.
You can do this!
Take the 36,000-foot view to see the landscape and to choose your destination, then come back to Earth to take the first steps toward your goals.  Remember, inch by inch, everything’s a cinch.
Kristy Grant-Hart is a compliance and ethics expert specializing in transforming compliance departments into in-demand business assets.
UK Phone: +44 (0)203 514 1443
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.