This morning I woke up thinking about the New Years tradition of making resolutions. I actually gave up that practice years ago. Resolutions always seemed like a weak attempt to make a change to some less than perfect situation in you life; comparable to the Monday Morning Diet syndrome. You know, you want to lose weight, but once the day begins, temptation appears, and you are easily diverted off your track of good intentions with simple obstacles like the office birthday cake, the impromptu lunch invitation and the networking happy hour. In if you’re lucky enough to hold your resolve till Tuesday or Wednesday, you might actually lose a pound or two, only to have it bounce right back by Friday. What’s the point?
So I got to thinking, maybe the New Year is actually a time for revolution (change) vs. resolution (intention to change). Oh, don’t get me wrong, intentions are great. They are the seeds of change. But real change (or improvement) only occurs when we get clear on what we want, create a strategy get there and insure accountability for action & success. In my coaching practice, I call it my 4 C’s to Success. Let’s look at an example of how this works
Clarify your Goal:
What do you want to change or improve on? What’s the Goal? What would the change look life or feel like (be specific)? If the change were to occur, what would be different for you? How would it impact your life?
Consider the Options:
There are many ways to accomplish a goal or create change. What are some of the options available to you? Brainstorm the possibilities. Which option(s) would work best for you?
Create your Plan:
What actions will you take to achieve your goal? Determine a time line for each step as well as the final result. What obstacles can you anticipate that may get in the way? How will you circumvent these barriers to your success?
Commit to your Plan and Enlist an Accountability Partner
A plan is nothing more than words on a paper or an idea in your head if you don’t act on it. If you can not fully commit to your plan, chances are good you will be easily derailed or distracted. Commitment is internal. You have to be the driver to make things happen. The best way to insure your sustained motivation and commitment is to find an accountability partner to “check in” with on a regular basis. This will keep you on track and on course. It’s like the homework scenario when you were a student at school. You might have waited till the last minute to complete your assignment, but in the end you got it in on time (hopefully). Knowing that someone is your partner in your process not only creates accountability, but also provides you with outside perspective & support.
So this year, rather than making a bunch of Resolutions, try creating your own personal or professional revolution! This year I am planning a personal “revolution” at my home. I am in the process of getting my 1st dog. Going through my 4 C’s has been very helpful indeed. Especially the “consider the options” step; from breeds & dispositions to shelters and rescues. My dog revolution is set to begin between now and the end of January. I’ll keep you posted on my progress as I am sure my new canine companion will inspire excellent subject matter for leadership lessons and “training tails”!
