Greetings and Happy New Year! My wish for all of you in 2023 is that you experience lots of love and laughter, that a long-held dream becomes a reality, that you experience the discomfort of growth, and that you are able to look yourself in the mirror at the end of each day and honestly say “I did my very best today.” And when that “very best” isn’t up to your usual standards – you give yourself a break and love yourself anyway.

Let me start by saying I’m a planning geek. Goals and strategies excite me, and I love realizing the aggressive goals I set for myself.

Today, I’m inviting you to pick an area of your professional life that you would like to see massive change in.

Step 1 – Choose the general area

Some possibilities:

-Get a promotion

-Get a substantial raise

-Get a new job

-Get a new certification

-Complete a degree

-Learn how to _____

-Get better at _____

-Stop _____

-Develop a better relationship with _____

-Win _____ award

-Become a subject matter expert in _____

-Write an article for _____ publication

Of course, there are many more possibilities than these, but hopefully this gets your brain moving.

Step 2 – Set a SMART goal

As a review, SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-Sensitive.

Let’s do a few examples. If your area is to get a substantial raise, your SMART goal might be:

-Ask boss for 20% raise at my performance evaluation in June.

Specific: 20%

Measurable: Did I, or did I not, ask?

Achievable: I can absolutely make this ask

Realistic: Based on my salary and the market rate for what I do, a 20% raise is very realistic

Time-Sensitive: I already have my performance review scheduled for June 19^th; that’s when I will ask.

Here’s another example: If your area is to get better at delegating, your SMART goal might be:

-Delegate the annual report copyrighting to Dana and the QA for the annual report to James, which is due on 3/01/2023.

Specific: Delegate the annual report copyrighting and QA

Measurable: Did I just supervise, rather than work hands on – yes or no?

Achievable: Dana and James are both fully capable of doing this work and would enjoy the challenge.

Realistic: It makes sense for Dana and James to be involved in this project for their professional development.

Time-Sensitive: Project is due 3/01/2023

Step 3 - Write down all the ways this WON’T work.

Going back to the example of asking for a raise:

-I’ll be too nervous to ask

-My boss might get mad

-My boss might fire me for asking

-My boss will tell me I don’t deserve that much more money

-My boss will laugh at me

-My boss will counter with a much lower raise

-My boss will tell me that it isn’t possible to give me that much

In the example of delegating the annual report:

-Dana or James might refuse

-Dana or James might not do a good job

-I may spend more time supervising them than if I did it myself

-I might end up having to do it all over again at the last minute

-Dana or James might leave before the project is due, and I’ll be left picking up the pieces

-Others on the team may be jealous of Dana or James because they got this important assignment

Step 4 - Use your list of problems to come up with action steps to solve.

Going back to the example of asking for a raise:

-I’ll be too nervous to ask – I will practice with my significant other or friend

-My boss might get mad – I can’t control how my boss reacts, but I will deliver my request as politely and respectfully as I can while standing up for myself

-My boss might fire me for asking - I can’t control how my boss reacts, but I will deliver my request as politely and respectfully as I can while standing up for myself

-My boss will tell me I don’t deserve that much more money – I will have data to back up my request

-My boss will laugh at me – I won’t make this mean anything about me

-My boss will counter with a much lower raise – I will practice how to counteroffer

-My boss will tell me that it isn’t possible to give me that much – I will have examples prepared that refute this if my boss brings it up

What if your goal is more long-term? If, for example, your area is to become a better leader, your goal might be:

Attend 3 leadership seminars/events in 2023.

The problems and solutions might be:

-I don’t know where to find the best events – I’ll mark off time on my calendar in January to research upcoming events and vet them out

-My boss might not want me gone that much – I’ll speak with him and get his support to attend

-I don’t know if my company will pay for that much training in one year – I’ll check with my boss on this; I’ll pay out of pocket if I need to

-I can’t take that much time off work – I will identify a 2^nd in command for my function to be in control when I’m out; I will train that person prior to the first training I attend

Step 5 - Calendar in your steps to success

If you need to research trainings, books to read, or how to set something up, block out times to do so. Give yourself sufficient time to complete the task – not too much or so little that you become frustrated.

If you plan to return to school, block out time to attend classes, study, etc.

If you want to improve a working relationship, schedule lunches or other out-of-office time with that person.

Step 6 - Choose an accountability partner – carefully

I love mastermind groups for this purpose, because I know that in two weeks, they will ask if I did what I said I was going to do.

Step 7 - Check in on your progress at least weekly

Create a system to keep track of what you’ve done and what you still need to do relative to your goal. Anything from notes in your calendar to an Excel spreadsheet to a formal project management tool will do the trick, as long as it is a) easy for you to use, b) accessible to you.

Part of checking in is making mid-course corrections. Is there a new step you need to introduce into your process? Has the goal changed slightly as you have progressed? Do you need to adjust your timeline (ideally due to circumstances outside your control).

Step 8 - Celebrate the win

This is the fun part – and the part so many people forget. This is your opportunity to give yourself a pat on the back, recognize the people who helped you achieve the win, and reflect on how you grew in achieving the goal.

What if you weren’t successful? Then celebrate the growth and learning. Remember my saying: It isn’t winning or losing, it’s winning or learning. If you weren’t successful, do you want to go for the goal again? Are you satisfied with the movement you did have – and are ready to move on to a new goal?

Step 9 - Use the momentum to choose another goal

One of the major benefits of setting, and achieving, goals is how you improve your relationship with yourself in doing so. You are learning to have your own back – “when I say I’m going to do something, I DO IT.”

Leverage that improved relationship to select another goal right after you’ve had a moment to stop and enjoy the view from your previous goal.

One final note: I recommend starting with something small, if goal setting and goal-achieving is a new concept for you. You’re building muscle around your ability to do what you say you are going to do, so don’t try to life a 250 lb. dead weight right off the bat.

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