Effective Goal-Setting Tip #4: Keep Yourself Accountable

You'll be amazed at how diligent you can be when someone else is watching.

All right then, time to get back to goals. We've already covered the Strengths and Motivation aspects of SMART goals, so let's move on to Accountability.

The basic fact is this: Without accountability, it can be awfully difficult to follow through on our promises. And, in some ways, that's what goals are. They are promises that we make to ourselves - and sometimes to our bosses, our peers, our clients, our spouses or our kids. Even the very best of intentions and the best laid plans can go astray if we don't build in that accountability piece.

So here's how it works. Find someone who cares whether you reach your goal. This might be a boss, a coworker, a friend, a family member, you name it. This person cares about you and wants to see you succeed. And he (or she) is willing to lend a hand in making that happen. He'll be honest, forthright and clear in giving you feedback on the progress you've made. He'll cheerlead your successes. Just as important, he'll give it to you straight when you're falling short of your goal.

Enlist this person as your accountability partner, or SMART partner. Let him know what you're looking to accomplish and how you're going about it. Stay connected and reach out when you've hit a stumbling block or simply need some prodding.

You'll be amazed at how much more diligent you can be when someone else has his eyes on your progress.

Who will your SMART partners be?

Until next time...

Liz

Flying in V-Formation

The Goose Story

This fall when you see geese heading south for the winter, flying together in "V" formation, you might be interested to know what science has discovered about why they fly that way: We know that as each bird flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own. Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to do it alone, and quickly gets into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front.

When the lead goose gets tired, he or she rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point. The geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. Finally, when a goose gets sick or is wounded by gunshots and falls out, two other geese will also fall out of formation and follow him down to help and protect him. They stay with him until he is either able to fly or until he is dead, and they then launch out on their own or with another formation to catch up with the group.

If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by each other like that.

- Source Unknown

Working in isolation just doesn't make sense.

The truth is, we are so much more effective, creative, energized when we work in partnership with others. Toward a shared vision, a common goal. Helping one another along the way. This type of collaboration, so far from hindering our success, instead brings it nearer, more rapidly and easily than if we attempt to go it alone.

Teamwork, delegation of responsibility, and mutual accountability are vital factors in optimizing performance. In fact, it is only when we fly in V-formation that we — as individuals and members of the larger community — can truly soar.

Effective Goal-Setting Tip #3: What's Your Motivation?

Okay, let's get back to our discussion of practical goal-setting. As you may recall, we were talking about setting goals that build upon your strengths. (You do remember this, right?) Quick review: My take on SMART means setting goals that are based on Strengths, Motivation, Accountability, Relevance and Tenacity.

Let's talk about motivation.

The simple truth is, reaching your goals means changing your behavior. Doing more of this, less of that, trying something new. And make no mistake, modifying behavior is incredibly difficult work. It's so much easier to keep doing things the same old way. Not necessarily better but usually a whole lot easier.

That being said, if you really want - or need - to make some changes, you'll have to tap into some serious motivation. Why do things differently? Why push past the natural resistance to change? What's in it for you?

Here's how it might play out. Let's say your goal is to sit down to dinner with your family every night rather than working late and grabbing a Big Mac on the way home. To achieve this goal, you'll need to make some serious changes. You'll have to be more efficient with your time. You'll need to start saying no to 11th hour requests at the office. You'll have to delegate more often. You may have to wake up and begin your day an hour earlier each morning. All of this will take a lot of effort and planning. It won't be easy.

That's why motivation is so important. Ask yourself: What's the upside of making these changes? What's in it for me? Well, a warm dinner home with your family for starters. A chance to reconnect with your spouse and kids. More time, perhaps, to catch up on the day's headlines, flip through a magazine, go for an evening walk, toss the ball to Fido, jump on the treadmill for 20 minutes. The possibilities are endless.

And you know, when you think of it that way, the benefits really start to outweigh the challenges. You see the value. You push yourself to make it happen. You reach your goal.

It's all in finding the right motivation.

Until next time...

Liz

Global Creative Economy Convergence Summit Just Three Weeks Away

Just three weeks until my presentation at the Global Creative Economy Convergence Summit (GCECS) in Philadelphia! I'm one of three panelists speaking about Interns and Mentors as Tools of Innovation. I’ll be discussing the many benefits of mentoring - to the mentor, the mentee and the organization - and I’ll provide practical tips for selecting a great mentor and doing what it takes to make the most of a mentoring relationship. Here's the "official" workshop description:

Companies are constantly examining ways to be more productive, more cost-effective and foster employee loyalty. Examine strategies for using interns and mentors as effective tools for today’s creative economy and the businesses that own that sector, as well as ways to establish professional relationships and positive connections that increase company and location retention.

The Summit takes place on October 5 and 6, 2009, at the Philadelphia Convention Center. My workshop kicks off at 2pm on the 5th. So come on out for what promises to be an incredible event, filled with dynamic presentations and fabulous networking. Keynote speakers include Elizabeth Gilbert, Best-selling Author of Eat, Pray, Love, Peter Shankman, Founder of HARO (Help A Reporter Out), Jane McGonigal, Director of Game Research and Development, Institute for the Future, and Randall Kempner, Executive Director, Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs.

For additional details and registration information, check out the GCECS website. I hope to see you there!

Until next time…

Liz

Business Communication Tip #31: Avoid Buzzword Overkill

I just read Tom Musbach's Yahoo! Hot Jobs article on the 10 most overused buzzwords in the workplace. The article presents some good, practical advice on when, how and whether to use common corporate catchphrases, such as leverage, reach out and game changer. Tom asked me to provide some guidelines for his readers. You can check them out here.

The long and short of it? Effective communication is all about adding value and being understood. Keep communication crisp, clear, meaningful and relevant. You'll make your point more clearly and have a greater impact - at work and at home.

Until next time...

Liz

Effective Goal-Setting Tip #2: Build Upon Your Strengths

Why is it that we so often try to correct for our shortcomings and pay little attention to we do best? Think back to the last self-improvement goal you set for yourself. Did it have anything to do with losing 15 pounds? Or maybe getting just a little botox around the eyes? Hair Club for Men sound familiar?

What flaw did you decide to fix or undo?

The fact is, we do this to ourselves all the time. We focus on our weaknesses. We take our strengths for granted. Which is not the way to get especially good at anything.

In order to set goals with real impact, goals that bring you from good to great (or from great to absolutely unstoppable), you've got to change that old mindset and start building upon your strengths. Take stock of what you do well and keep getting better at it.

Are you a creative thinker? How can you expand upon your creativity? What can you do to turn your creative ideas into innovative new products or services?

Perhaps you're great with people. Go with it. How do continue to sharpen your interpersonal skills? How can you use your people savvy to drive your business forward? To advance your career?

Or maybe you're a technical type. (No typecasting intended. I know that techies come in various shapes and sizes. None of which, I'm afraid, looks like me. Hey, I know my strengths and my weaknesses. Technology: definitely not a strength!) Ask yourself what you can do to draw upon your technical competence. How do you stay on top of the latest developments in order to use your talent to its fullest potential?

So give it some thought and be honest with yourself. Do you craft your goals around weaknesses or do you take what you already do well and keep building toward excellence?

Go ahead, I challenge you, figure out where your strengths and talents lie. And remember, truly SMART goals should be built upon Strengths, Motivation, Accountability, Relevance and Tenacity. Coming up next: Motivation.

Until next time...

Liz

Effective Goal-Setting Tip #1: SMART is Just the Start

I had a great time speaking at the Career Networking Group last week about Practical Goal-Setting: From Good Intentions to Great Achievements! The audience was wonderfully engaged throughout the talk, which made it a terrific event for me and for them. We discussed my spin on the SMART approach to goal setting and focused on ways to make it here-and-now useful for each participant.

Chances are, you're familiar with the traditional SMART technique. The idea is to make your goals Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-Based. And, in truth, I think this approach has actually got some merit. It transforms general good intentions - think, My team will be more effective - into actionable, measurable goals - think, My team will improve productivity by 20% over the next 6 months through focused, weekly team meetings and delegation of individual and group responsibility for specific tasks.

You can get as specific as you'd like with a goal like this. In some ways, the more specific, the better - as long as you keep it realistic and attainable. There's nothing less motivating than setting a highly specific goal that no one can possibly achieve.

The issue isn't that SMART doesn't work. Quite often, it does. The problem is that it's a dry, mechanical approach to goal setting. It doesn't do much for Napoleon Hill's "A goal is a dream with a deadline." (Check out my August 17 blog entry for more on this.) The traditional SMART technique is simply that - a technique. It's the necessary-but-not-sufficient framework for effective goal setting.

To move beyond the basics - to create goals that reflect your dreams - try my spin on SMART. Craft goals that are based in Strengths, Motivation, Accountability, Relevance and Tenacity. Check back soon, as I'll tackle each of these elements, one by one, to help you develop meaningful, inspiring goals - the kind of goals that bring you that much closer to fulfilling your dreams.

Until next time...

Liz