Send to KindleNew Year’s Resolutions or Goals
Every year I advise people to forgo the usual New Year’s resolution process. Few people ever actually stick to their resolutions even though I often hear something like “I’m really going to do it this year.” I heard that last year though, and the year before. Here’s a better idea.
If your fiscal year corresponds to the calendar year, review your strategic plan (or develop one) and evaluate your goals. Are you on track to accomplish those goals? Perhaps you have accomplished some of the goals you set last year. Another essential question to ask is whether your goals are still valid. It is not unusual to find that a goal that was set last year has been overcome by events and is no longer important. This happens sometimes, especially with today’s pace of change. Even though you have resources invested in that goal, it’s best to cut your losses early and move on.
If your fiscal year does not start on January 1st, then enjoy the new year and keep working your plan. When your new fiscal year starts, look at the plan and evaluate your goals.
When you follow a good goal setting process, and regularly track those goals, they are much better than any New Year’s resolution. There’s one more thing you can do to start your year off right, no matter when that year actually begins. Tell everyone in the company about the goals that you accomplished and make sure they know that you know those accomplishments were because of their hard work. That’s a key step in starting the year off right!
If you really want to make resolutions, be my guest. Like so many other people, you can resolve to get in shape and pay upfront for that one-year membership at the fitness club. But, ask yourself why they ask for a whole year up-front. It’s simple – they know they won’t see you past the end of February, but they will still have your money.
Good goal setting isn’t like that. When you have a good goal setting process there is an organizational effort to meet the goals and move the company forward.
Have a happy, resolution free New Year.
