Coaching to Success

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GOING FOR YOUR OWN GOLD… WINNING FORMULA!

Goal Setting!! Yep, easy expression but not so easy to achieve. Back in 1979, New graduates of the Harvard’s MBA Program were interviewed and it was found that 84% had no specific goals at all, 13% had goals but they were not committed to paper 3% had clear, written goals and plans to accomplish them. Later, in 1989, the interviewers again interviewed the graduates of that class and they discovered the following results… The 13% of the class who had goals were earning, on average, twice as much as the 84 percent who had no goals at all. Even more staggering – the three percent who had clear, written goals were earning, on average, ten times as much as the other 97 percent put together.

So, Goal Setting. Here’s 7 Tips to set you off on a path of Gold:

  • Tip 1: SET REALISTIC GOAL

Explore your imagination, let it run riot and go for the BIG! And then reign it in to check it is actually achievable and within a time scale that is also realistic. Adopt the SMART strategy (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Timed)

  • Tip 2: OPEN YOUR MIND TO ALL AREAS

It is all too easy to simply focus on work-related goals alone. Look at goals that also bring enjoyment into your life relating to you happiness and well-being. Get the balance of goal setting right across all areas of your life.

  • Tip 3: MAKE THE GOALS ‘POSITIVE’

So many times we set ‘Negative’ goals!! What are these? Well, take areas such as wanting to GIVE UP smoking, STOP working so many hours, or to LOSE weight, these are negative so turn them around and put them into the positive… Create a healthier lifestyle, Spend more time with my family or to get fitter. Reframe negatives into positives… you may be surprised at how much more attractive they become and consequently more achievable.

  • Tip 4: SET REALISTIC COMPLETION TIME

Often we estimate to complete a task by ‘x’. To be truly proficient in setting a deadline is to set a start-time. Once you have the start, you can decide how long each segment (if there are more than one) takes to complete your overall goal and then schedule those times in thus removing the panic at the end and inevitably not completing it at all.

  • Tip 5: SET AN ACHIEVABLE AMOUNT OF GOALS

There are only 24 hours in a day, and each goal will take time and energy, therefore, be constructive and realistic in how many goals you can achieve and the time you can give them to insure they receive your full attention. “Quality, NOT quantity” so rather than setting a myriad of goals, by all means, set out what you wish to accomplish and then chose the ones you wish to start on knowing they’re attainable.

  • Tip 6: IT’S NOT A FAILURE, IT’S A LEARNING!

As Thomas Edison commented when he eventually found how to create electric light “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work”. When you don’t succeed, treat these as ‘Learning’ curves, not failures as these contain the lessons that can ultimately change your life. Take note of where you may not have been successful in reaching your goal and use that knowledge for the next attempt.

  • Tip 7: REVIEW HOW YOU’RE DOING

Some short term goals can be set and achieved in a matter of weeks, others may take years but throughout, it is critical to review your own progress. Analyse what you have achieved up to a given point and do this at regular intervals. If it’s a large overall goal, set sub-goals and reward yourself when you accomplish them within the given time-scale (for me, I make myself a REALLY nice cup of coffee!) It doesn’t have to be costly but something to show you’ve achieved it. Also, you can review or adapt your goal to insure it remains live and realistic.

Coaching to Success help and keep you motivated along your path to success and support you through these transitions and if this is an area you are unsure of or feel you would benefit from, take that first step by speaking to someone who can help you set these goals and keep you on track to reach them, after all, that’s what coaching is all about so pick up the phone to arrange a free consultation on how we can help, contact Neil (07761 187238) or throw us an email at info@coachingtosuccess.co.uk… We’re here to help.

WHAT ARE WE TO DO? THE OLYMPICS ARE HERE AND THE WEATHER’S AWFUL, OH MY!!

The Olympics has nearly began and already the papers are harping on about how depressing the weather is and how this will reflect badly on us to the whole world, blah, blah, blah… well, you know what, we can’t do anything about the weather, that’s out of our control (or concern) but making sure the Olympics goes as smoothly as possible IS within our abilities (or influence)

As in business and personal life, everyone has things they are concerned about. This is your Circle of Concern. Sometimes we can do something about them whereas, much like the weather… we can’t. Those things we can do something about are in your Circle of Influence within your overall circle of concern.

Now for those of you familiar with Stephen Coveys 7 Habits of Highly Effective People you will understand where I’m going with this. The first part refers to ‘Be proactive’ and within this included his circle of ‘Influence’ being an integral part of the circle of ‘Concern’.

Those that are ‘Proactive’ make decisions and concentrate their efforts on the influential inner circle. As they become stronger in their resolve, this increases in sizes thus reducing the amount of concern, however, those who concentrate primarily on the main circle of concern, show signs of doubt and insecurities which, in turn, means the less proactive or reactive people will continue to focus their time and energy on circumstances that are outside their control and expand the circle of concern. This negative energy and lack of progress causes their circle of influence to shrink and continues to spiral in this way with continued thinking in this mode

As you make progress, your circle of influence becomes larger, you feel more in control, and have a more positive outlook towards a new or changing environment

There will, of course, always be things that you cannot control or influence but they become lower concern and priority.

Here’s some ways of addressing this that you can find in Covey’s book…

  1. Listen to your language and see if you start sentences with “I have to…”, “If only I had…”, etc… these are the “Have’s” and strengthen your circle of concern whereas the “Be’s” increase the circle of influence, such as “I can be more…”, “If I do that, I’ll be…”
  2. Look at a given situation arising and compare it to a time a similar previous occurrence. See if you previously ‘Reacted’ to it and this time look at it from a response of being ‘Proactive’ thus increasing your circle of influence. Actually picture it in your mind showing all the positive elements and exercise your freedom to choose. If someone is giving you a hard time, look positively at the situation and element the fact that they are trying to dump there bad vibes onto you, you have a choice to accept the ‘feeling’ (not necessarily the task though!)
  3. Select a problem from work or personal life. Rather than let it eat away at your emotions, determine if it is a direct, indirect or no control situation and identify what the first step(s) you need to take to increase your circle of influence, and then… guess what? Take it!
  4. Take a month, 28-31 days, to test out the way your situation changes by being ‘proactive’, in control as opposed to ‘reactive’ and letting circumstances take over you.

This is the first of the seven steps introduced by Covey, there’s more to it than this simple description but even this, used properly, can have truly positive effects on what you do. Alternatively, if you’d like to discuss issues around concerns, how to become influential, reactive thought processes or how to achieve more by being proactive whether yourself or the team you are responsible for, do not hesitate in contacting Neil (07761 187238) to arrange a free consultation on how we can help.

Finally, what are your views on these blogs? Write a comment below and let us know, we always appreciate feedback on what we offer. Many thanks.