by Mandy Green, Busy Coach
The idea is a good one: Set goals for the New Year, and then carry them out. That’s a great idea for coaches, as well. The problem I find is that coaches are so busy, going in so many directions, and pressed by “more important” matters that they don’t get around to serious goal setting. But it’s important, and it can result in better performance for you as a coach and recruiter.
Go back and take a look at the New Year’s Resolutions that you set for 2022. Are you still working on them? Or did you very quickly resort back to your old ways of doing things and decided that you will try again next year?
A big reason so many New Year’s Resolutions fail within the first week is that the focus is on the “what” instead of the “why” and the “how.
The first question to ask yourself when making New Year’s Resolutions is “why” am I making these goals in the first place? The second question to ask yourself is “how” am I going to make this resolution a reality?
For example, if your resolution is to “mange my time better in the office so I can spend more time with my family,” maybe you should look to the root cause of the problem:
- I get into the office late
- I spend too much time emailing
- I get distracted easily
- I spend too much time gossiping with fellow coaches
- I’m not organized
- I have too many things to get done
- I get interrupted a lot during the day
Once you have identified the “why” for each resolution, create specific personal resolves for behavior change from there.
Here are a few specific resolves:
- I will get into the office 1 hour before the rest of the staff arrives
- I will only check my email twice a day
- I will create a personal, team, and recruiting plan
- I will make to-do lists to make sure the important things are getting done
TODAY’S TRAINING EXERCISE:
1. For each goal you created for this upcoming season or year, make a list of the “why’s.” What is the real reason you want to achieve this goal?
2. Come up with specific behavioral changes you are willing to make in order to make each resolution a reality.
3. Commit an hour a day to spend on working on your goal and get to work.
When it comes to the goals you are trying to accomplish this year, I recommend keeping it simple. Make sure your goals are attainable. And, most of all, write them down. Goals that are written down and placed where you can see them on a regular basis will get achieved.
Goal setting is the easy part. Committing to spending time each day working on your goals is tough for coaches because there are so many things to get done.
Goals are important for your personal and professional development. Take them seriously as we head into the new year.
Join me for a new webinar called Plan to Win in 2023 on Wednesday, January 4th. More details on the link.