2021: SET YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS

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 2020 has been a wild ride.  The challenges we overcame this past year are too many to count.  It’s hard to believe, but the year is coming to a close in a few short weeks, which means it’s time to start planning for 2021 now. Taking the time to make thoughtful goals and a clear plan for your year will set you up for success and hold yourself accountable.  

1. Reflect

We learned a lot of hard lessons this past year.  You can’t move forward without taking a little time to look back.  Start by taking some time to reflect on 2020. What worked well? What didn’t? Ask your employees, coworkers, and leaders for their feedback.  Once you’ve established where you stand, you’ll have a clearer picture of what you want to accomplish in 2021.

2. Set Goals

To set goals that will really make an IMPACT on your life, you must first prioritize what you want to achieve. You probably have a laundry list of things you’d like to do, but it’s critical to decide where it makes the most sense to invest your time and energy.

Don’t forget that all of your goals should be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely).  By putting all of your goals through a SMART filter, you increase your chances of successfully completing them.

It’s important to rank your goals in order of importance to determine your focus. Have a goals board in your office or in a visible place that you can see every day. They need to remain top of mind throughout their completion, not forgotten in February like New Year’s resolution.

3. Feedback

Setting goals should not be done in a vacuum.  Once you’ve developed and prioritized your goals, test them out by asking for feedback from others. Bouncing your ideas off team members, mentors, and leaders can help you fine-tune and could potentially open you up to new ideas entirely. Diverse perspectives should be something you embrace in all aspects of your development.

4. Accountability with Goals

After you’ve finalized your goals, it’s time to put measurements in place to hold yourself accountable. It can be as simple as making a calendar with key milestones to check in on your progress. If you’re not meeting your goals at these checkpoints, it’s an indication you need to step back and ask yourself why and what you need to change. Your goals shouldn’t be rigid, and you should expect to adjust throughout the year as your priorities change and your business evolves.

Winning smart starts with a plan.

We all need a guiding light to help us through the darkest times.  If this year has taught us anything, it is that we are always prepared for the unexpected.  If you’re committed to your goals and dedicated to achieving them, you’ll find yourself energized by the possibilities and motivated for success in the new year.


By: Atanseiye Oluwapelumi (@pearlumie_)

cc: RDI

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