As a lawyer and a coach, annual goal-setting has almost always been a part of my routine. But that also became a problem. Soon my year end planning was so routine that my goals started sounding the same from year to year. Eat less, move more, achieve this, avoid that, grow my business, expand my relationships- blah, blah, blah.
Once I started my own business over a decade ago, I no longer had the accountability of having to write my annual year-end memo (the “sing for your supper” memo that most Big-Law firms require). While initially I dreaded the year-end memo, I quickly realized I needed to write one in order to advance- I needed to advocate for my bonus and points (and justify my value to the firm), for no one else would. I soon came to embrace writing the memo as it gave me the blueprint to create a more compelling vision and plan for each coming year.
As an entrepreneur, how do I routinely take stock of how the past year went, and how I’d like the next year to look? How do I make my goals compelling, when there is no one to answer to except myself? Is there such a thing as doing a year-end review…of myself, for myself? Of course!
I’ve devised a four-step exercise- LEAP to help me take stock of my past year as a precursor to goal-setting for the coming year. It’s like turning over the soil before I plant any seeds for the next season.
List the Data. On a blank piece of paper (or screen), I start listing data from the past year. This could include people/clients, projects, programs, places, practices, events, adventures, successes (or failures!) — whatever comes to mind. I usually look at my calendar to jog my memory. Just jot things down without worrying about significance. Keep writing until you’ve filled up a page (or two).
Evaluate. Next, with a highlighter or different colored pens, identify the standout items. Have some fun with it. Notice what people, places, projects, or programs brought you the most joy; and which did not. Perhaps you’ll be surprised that the least revenue-producing event brought you the most joy- as I did when I participated in a graphic facilitation workshop in San Francisco last year (and re-awakened my inner artist). Quickly, rank-order these items/people in significance, without analyzing why. What are the top 10? What are the top three? Don’t think, just feel.
Analyze: Now it’s time for some analysis. I ask myself questions about what my list means in terms of the kind of year I’ve had, and the kind of year I’d like to have going forward. Ask some questions:
— What patterns do you notice?
— What’s surprising about your list? What’s predictable?
— What was a distraction; what was a calling?
— What revenue/professional goals did you accomplish, and how much time did that take?
— Based on this list, what’s most (and least) important to you?
— In the past year, what are some ways that you’ve grown personally? Professionally?
— In the coming year, what are some ways you’d like to grow personally? Professionally?
— In the coming year, what would you like to hold onto? Let go of? Take on?
Project Forward to Craft Compelling Goals. Once we’ve turned over our mental soil (and soul!), we are ready to craft aspirational as well as actionable goals. First, project forward into the future to envision an inspiring aspiration. I begin by identifying my favorite people and projects, and craft some compelling avatars illustrating them.
What is an avatar you might ask? In video games, it’s an icon or symbol representing a person or type. At companies like Target, they call their Avatar the ideal “guest”, complete with gender, generation, and other details. To create mine, I examine what all my favorite clients and projects for the last year had in common. I typically draw three different avatars: my favorite female client, male client, and team/group client.
Next, envision what your year would look and feel like if you were living out your values, serving the people (your Avatars) whom you enjoy the most, delivering the projects and programs in your sweet spot. Who would you serve, what would you be doing, where would you travel, what would you accomplish at home and at work? Are there some milestones along the way- skills you need to develop or enhance in different seasons?
The final step is to create an action plan complete with “SMART” goals- (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Timebound). This is where many leaders struggle, for how do we define specific goals to enhance a “soft” skill- like becoming a more effective networker, or inspirational leader?
For example, let’s say you want to become a more persuasive speaker- to attract, entertain, and educate those ideal clients. You could simply commit to practice two hours daily. But practice doesn’t make perfect (only perfect practice does). In fact, without feedback from a coach or observer about what is going well (and what’s not), you could simply be practicing errors! When I was a jazz musician, my skill increased dramatically when I changed my goal from “practice two hours daily”, to “practice each scale five times without mistakes while recording it”. I applied this same practice more recently when I delivered a ZED talk (an 8-minute mini-TED talk). I recorded my speech daily five times without notes with an eight- minute timer.
Bottom line: As you identify your SMART goals for each month, quarter, and year, make sure to build time into your plan for these practices. For we need both aspirations to compel us and action steps to propel us. Design 2019 to be the year you’re eager to live!
Published 1/11/19
Kathleen Marron is a Master Coach/lawyer/author in Minneapolis, MN. Her new book, Fearless Feedback, is now available for purchase on Amazon on January 16, 2019 (see www.fearlessfeedbackguide.com ).