How to Have a “New” Year in 2018
New Years Day arrives and leaves like every other day. It’s different for one reason. We make it different.
New Years is different because you do different things. The folks where we live – Central Pennsylvania – eat sauerkraut on New Years. I don’t get it. Being a Maine boy, I prefer lobster.
Do differently in 2018 if you want a NEW year.
Set different goals.
Don’t set artificial goals for yourself.*
Leaders get giddy when they set artificial goals. “We’re going to increase sales by 7% in 2018.” Don’t get me wrong. Organizations need artificial goals.
The thing I hate about goal-setting is the process begins and ends with artificial goals.
A new question for different goals:
How might you bring value to others in 2018?
This is deceptive because leaders tend to focus on product, service, and results, rather than value when setting goals.
Value goals assume you know the value you bring.
Behavior-based questions that reflect leaderly value:
- What can you do to make the future bright? Hope.
- How will you bolster self-confidence in others? Boldness.
- How will you let others know they matter? Meaning.
- How will you make others feel they belong? Connection.
- How will you help others work with others? Teamwork.
Goals need behaviors, not comfortable intentions.
A new practice for a NEW year:
Rush to quiet reflection at the beginning of your day, not action.
Apart from quiet – focused – reflection you end up running like mad and forgetting who you aspire to become.
You might reflect on one of the questions in the above list or one of the following questions.
- What can you do today that will make you proud?
- How might you best leverage your strengths today?
- What insignificant activity should you eliminate today?
- What might you do today that builds the future you aspire to create?
How might leaders make 2018 a “NEW” year?
What questions for quiet – focused – reflection might you suggest?
*Jim Parker, the former CEO of Southwest Airlines told me not to set artificial goals in a conversation back in 2012.
Absolutely. Set GOOD positive goals for impacting others — we can all to that. We can ask for ideas and get other people involved. Doing resolutions just do do resolutions is wasted time and effort. ME, I am about to set goals I have accomplished in 2017 and have already given up on setting normal kinds of “particulars” for 2018.
Let’s choose to simply positively impact some other people, that Pay it Forward thing.
Thanks Dr. Scott. Leaders can set an artificial goal with a pronouncement and expect others to make it happen. But the rubber hits the road when we think of how we want to positively impact others.
Best for the NEW year!
Good morning Dan!
Such a great post full of wisdom. The questions are excellent. Going into the new year, I wil definitely be referencing your post(s) to make 2018 a great year!
Thanks again!
Jay
Good morning Jay. Thanks for the good word and best wishes for 2018. I plan to plan my day a little more, rather than letting it plan me. That’s why I’m thinking about beginning the day with reflection.
I have been a subscriber for a couple of years and want to thank you for the great content. But what I feel is the greatest asset to me is that your info makes me take pause and think about what you have written. In today’s “Fire Drill Life” when ever I receive your email I make time to read it quietly and see how I can apply one idea you provided. Sometimes successfully sometimes not. Have a great New Year Walt Doyle Seattle
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Dan,
I see the sense of being realistic with goals from a business standpoint.
From a life standpoint make the effort to build on what you have as a Leader to enhance those you can help establish their goals, its more than me or you, from a team stance.
Another view is to seek out your weaknesses and strengthen them from inside out to be a better leader.
Happy New Year, I love the Lobster but live on a sauerkraut budget😉
Wow such a great post I like that type of thinking very inspirational!!!!!
Dan you’re right that leaders tend to focus on product, service, and results, rather than value. When the only thing the organisation cares about is results, where does value belong?
I like making others know they matter.. Without a feeling that you matter and CAN make a difference, it’s hard to stay motivated and give the 100%. Employees or anyone will feel they matter once they realize you are listening to them.
I appreciate your suggestion and questions around creating a new practice for the new year. Quiet reflection and questions like these transform the way I approach my days (and therefore have a massive impact on my weeks, months, years and life).
I love this! In 2018, I will set goals for creating better experiences for others. These questions are just what I needed to help firm up my top 5.
I saw the title of this post in my inbox and had to follow the link, knowing that I would be inspired. Dan, you really hit the mark on this one. Not only is your timing excellent, your message is valuable. I used to reflect every morning and got out of the habit quite some time ago. The result was definitely more ‘mad running,’ less leading and less partnering. I’m taking time today to get back in the habit. Thank you!