What gets measured gets done. Should it?

Deciding to write articles on here has been a bit of a journey. I have dabbled from time to time, but I found myself talking to my coach about a desire to create consistent visibility. Through that conversation I decided to write on a much more regular basis including agreeing to schedule time to write and post articles/blogs. Setting a day and time of the week to publish them.

Roll forward two weeks and I find myself dialling into my next coaching call. Opening the call with a description of how I felt.

“I feel like a bag of allsorts, there’s a whole host of emotions inside me that could come up right now”.

And….a key to those feelings was I’d not done anything on my blog. I’d not written anything, I’d not posted anything, NOTHING.

When I said that out loud, I could feel myself punishing myself. How could I not fulfil my commitment? What was up with me – I’m known for delivering and achieving. Then I reflected – I wanted my writing to represent me. If I’d delivered to a deadline it would have been for the sake of it, I knew that was what my emotion was telling me. The deadline was restricting flow and creativity. I knew if I had published something I wouldn’t be proud of it.

The learning continues – despite having worked for myself for 2 years, I was still carrying habits of my old working self. Where I was bound often by deliverables that were largely out of my control and preference and yet still needed doing. When they were of this nature, I realise now I unconsciously “punished” myself to motivate me to deliver and achieve.

Fascinating...I wanted to write, but had put in mechanisms that triggered an old working habit. It definitely does take time to change habits! This got me thinking – where else do I do this and am unaware? And the reflection continues as I write this today.

So what?

• Be conscious of what you measure yourself against. We often hear in business references to “what gets measured gets done”. I’d always thought of that as an external reference point, but clearly what we measure unconsciously is likely to get done or at least make us feel uncomfortable when we don’t. It maybe an unnecessary way of punishing ourselves (it was for me).
• If you can identify your measures – for me, delivering and achieving a deadline, are you aware of the relevance of the measure and it’s impact on you? I was putting myself under undue stress and pressure. Self imposed. As soon as I released that, I felt able to write again! 
• Take a different perspective. My first inclination was I’d failed. I hadn’t achieved. There’s nothing untrue about that perspective. However, I’d also chosen to not write because it didn’t feel right. I didn’t feel in the zone. These are very good reasons too! That’s just two perspectives and the second makes me feel very different. There’s always another view point.
• Be kind to yourself. I so often find, when talking to clients, that we hold ourselves up to a super human standard and yet what is often (99% of the time) required is being human. Check in with your peers, colleagues, friends and family and see what advice/guidance they have on what’s needed. A simple question - What does good look like? Or do you think I’m being hard on myself? 

What measures might you need to change to be more effective? Please do share, I love reading your comments.

Side bar - I've decided to post articles when and if it feels right. I will not be a slave to scheduling and posting articles like a robot! I've set myself a goal of 2 from the heart articles a month.