6 Steps for Dynamic Goal Setting
I think like most people I am on a bit of a daily treadmill, with repeated patterns and rituals and the problem with that is that I can get into a bit of rut, a well-worn path of thoughts, feelings and behavior that is comfortable, but perhaps does not keep me focused on a goal of improvement and growth. How about you?
Over the last 18 months I have shifted from an employee mindset to being more entrepreneurial and that change now allows me to chase bright shiny things as a means of distraction/avoidance and getting certain thing done, and while being so much more fun, I still need to hold myself to account and therefore lean into some of the tools I used from my past, with a little tweak as I relish in the less restrictive world of work I now occupy
Whether you are employed in a large, structured organization or a free-spirited artistic entrepreneur – scheduled performance reviews can be a great time to figure out what you’ve done, where you are and where you’re going. End of June, half-way through the year, seems like a great checkpoint for me and maybe for you too.
Here’s my bug bear about a lot of reviews though. They hold goals that are set as static things, whereas in reality the world is always changing. What I thought was important in January is not so pressing today. So…if that goal has changed why do I need to continue to pursue it? The nature of being innovative demands that I change with the circumstances rather than follow a course that I know is of diminishing value.
So, here is a process for determining where you are at, both personally and professionally and where to go next. Before you start this though, make sure you have the right conditions for contemplation and reflection. Ideally away from the distractions of the office, the phone or yelling kids.
1. Celebrate your accomplishments!
You are not the same person you were in January. What is the difference?
Maybe you learned a new skill, met new people, received a promotion, experienced less anger, made a perfect meal, closed a deal, learned a new language, finished reading an inspiring book, overcame hardship…
Make a list from the grand to the granular of things you have achieved. Take your time and don’t be afraid to leave it and come back to it.
This is about acknowledging that you are moving forward. It’s about recognizing forward momentum and acknowledging that you are a work in progress and every new development is something that improves you.
It’s easy to focus on what we don’t do, or goals that are unachieved. You can’t change that decision you made in March that backfired, but you can learn from it and move forward.
2. Review what your goals or “performance objectives” were.
It’s the norm to measure ourselves against those goals and getting some sense of how much is left to achieve is still important. But maybe an associated question is. Are those goals still relevant? The personal, professional, and global environment has evolved since January. Are those goals as important today? Should they be sharpened, made more specific, or dismissed altogether? Remember, “more” is not a number, and “soon” is not a time. Having details on your objectives will help you figure out your progress.
3. Set new Goals - What do you want to do now?
Importantly here, don’t be a prisoner to your previous goals. If you have answered the previous question honestly and found that those goals are no longer serving you. Dump ‘em! If you have set and met your goals, great! Set new ones.
Create a new set of targets for the remainder of the year, remembering to make the goals specific and personal.
4. Why have things changed?
Everything is an experiment. We are highly adaptive creatures who can innovate as conditions change. So, if there is a change in your goals now compared to the ones set in January, what has made this happen, and what part of this change can you own and learn from?
Were the goals too ambitious? If they are less important, why? How do you keep goals front and centre? Is there enough accountability? Did life events get in the way, and if so, how does this effect your priorities?
To be clear, this is not a self-blaming exercise, but an act of kindness and curiosity to yourself to understand what moves you towards or away from goals. Seth Godin states “that anything we start that we don’t know it’s going to end is art”, goal setting is like that. Learn from the goals, learn from the process and overtime your goal setting will improve as well as the outcomes!
5. To achieve your new goals – What will you do differently? What will you continue to do, or do more of?
This is the question that relates to learning, insight and commitment. This really is the crux of the matter – how are you informed by your goals and this exercise to change your behavior?
List those behavioral changes that are required to be successful (in whatever form you define success). Now, revisit your new list from question #3 and pair up behavioral changes with your new goals.
When someone gets a promotion, they can’t use the same set of skills that got them the job. The need to grow new skills. Similarly, setting new goals will demand a new set of skills and behavioral changes to allow you to move forward.
6. Go back to #1
This is a cycle. A cycle of acceptance, growth, and personal acknowledgement that we are all learners, that in order to get better (at riding a bike, or being a better parent, or boss, cook or rocket scientist), we need to experiment. We need to honor the past without being trapped by it, take time to soak up where we are, and then keep moving forward in whatever form that takes.
I’d be delighted to hear how this cycle works for you and learn of any goals you want to share as a result of using it. Happy Summer!