6 Simple Goal-Getting Actions for Leaders

At this time of year I become a lot more reflective, assessing and determining what tweaks and changes need to be made in the New Year to keep me moving towards my new goals. I had an interesting talk with a colleague yesterday which made me think of this slightly differently. We were discussing our focus for 2020 and she told me that hers was ‘travel’, both personal and business – and that every action she takes supports this goal.

Mine is creating more financial security by pursuing two projects and embracing my new job, which starts this January.

What’s different for me today is that normally, I would look at what work-based actions I need to take to support these goals, then break them down into detailed chunks weekly, quarterly and yearly. I’ll still do this.

However this year, as I near my 57th birthday, my focus has changed somewhat. I realise I have to look at what well-being and self-care actions I need to take to have the stamina and energy to reach those goals.

It’s no longer a case of just taking daily actions – instead it’s having the mental clarity and physical strength to carry them out.

And this is what my colleague and friend discussed with me. Everything she does to improve her mental, physical and spiritual well-being are all in support of her goal to travel.

So as I begin to plan what will be my busiest year yet, I am mindful that there are certain fundamental changes that need to take place in order to achieve my 2020 objectives;

Gamechangers:

If you haven’t seen this yet, I recommend it. I was vegetarian for 9 years and this documentary has brought the very real benefits sharply back into focus for me. I’ve always treated food as medicine, but I’m now emptying my freezer to return to a purely plant-based diet again. The science and results in this programme speak for themselves.

Sleep:

Lack of sleep has been shown to affect everything. Our minds are sluggish, our memory and immunity suffers, we eat more (and not always the best foods) and our skin ages faster. We are unable to exercise properly and have far less energy. My goal is to steadily work towards 8 hours a night and a pre-sleep wind-down which supports this.

Valuing my Body:

When I exercise regularly, I feel strong, powerful, energised. I have a spring in my step and exude body confidence. My posture improves and I’m more tuned in to my body’s needs. I’ve begun with a combination of walking, stretching, high intensity bursts, controlled chi-gong movements and dance, depending on what I feel like on the day.

Valuing my time:

This is time management with a focus on value. It’s a combination of good prioritisation (I use Stephen Covey's 4 Quadrant Time Management Matrix), saying no to what doesn’t support my goals, and blocking out time for the things I need to do to sustain peak energy. 2020 means exercise, preparing and eating energising meals, taking selected courses, painting and keeping to my sleep goals.

Hold the Stimulants:

If I’m getting enough sleep, I don’t need them. I rarely use sugar and only drink herbal tea. The up/down rhythm that stimulants give me won’t support sustained energy and performance.

Positive Re-Enforcement:

My new one is ‘my body deserves better’. For years I’ve used ‘I am healthy, capable and strong’. I use affirmations because they work. One of the key psychological theories behind them is the self-affirmation theory (Steele, 1988). It means we can view different aspects of ourselves as positive and adapt better to different situations (Aronson, 1969).

I realise that these things are obvious. However to summarise, if you can crystallise the one key thing that you’re going to focus on this year, be that travel, financial security... – and make sure that the underlying motivators of growth, autonomy and contribution are in place (or whatever yours are), you will find that there is enduring joy in executing on what might have before seemed ‘difficult’.

Alison Roberts is an ex-entrepreneur with 35 years’ experience as a Global L&D Leadership Consultant, Sales Director/Trainer, Account Manager, Executive & Business Mentor and Public Speaker. She is passionate about Women in Leadership and specialises in developing and empowering future leaders and high-potentials. She is at her best when solving complex problems and challenging the status quo. Connect with Alison on LinkedIn, Facebook and the Web #WomenLead