New Goals for a New Year
By Silvia de Ridder
This is often the time of year when we spend time reflecting on the year that has been.
Was 2008 the year you wanted it to be ?
What were some of the highlights for you ?
Spend some time right now and make a list of 5 things that went well or were moments of significance.
Acknowledge yourself for your successes – no matter how small they may seem. We can all so easily focus on the negatives, but for just a few moments lets reflect on what was positive.
Now having completed this activity, ask yourself – What could I be doing better ? Allocate some time over the next few days while things may still be quiet to work out what you want in your life and where you are in relation to those goals. Having defined the gap, what actions need to happen to make that goal a reality in 2009.
Having done this, think about what support you may need to help you achieve those goals. Support may be in the form of reading material, a close friend, a course or maybe the help of a coach.
The following statistics around the probability of completing a goal may be of interest.*
10 % if you hear an idea
25 % if you consciously decide to adopt it
40 % if you decide when you will do it
50 % if you plan how you will do it
65 % if you commit to someone else that you will do it
95 % if you have a specific accountability appointment with the person to whom you committed.
A coach is there to support and motivate you. They are your advocate when you feel stuck and keep you accountable for doing the things you say you are going to do.
And remember to make those goal SMART – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely
To assist you to make a start, select one area you would like to set a goal for and consider the following accountability questions
1. What will you do ?
2. By when ?
3. What does finished/success look like
4. How will you let me or someone know ?
5. What are the consequences of not doing it
* American Society for Training and Development
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