09/15/2009
It seems lately that our office has been abuzz with inspiration, innovation and excitement. Maybe it's just that I'm getting married in two weeks, but everything just feels more alive... So I wanted to share the wealth with notes on a few things we've learned over the recent months. The first topic is setting goals in order to promote higher productivity and lower stress.
Goal-Setting:
Most of the time the problem is not that people don't have goals, but rather than our goals are too big. Which is not to say that we should shrink them, but rather that we should approach them one step at a time. This is something I'm sure most people have already heard, but you know what? It actually works.
Let's say, for example, that you'd like to write a novel. That's a very admirable goal, and one that if you keep thinking about in those terms you will probably never start. So why not open up your calendar, pick a date (this week), and put down the first step of this process. Is it to write an outline? Is it so think of character names? Maybe it's just to take out pencil and paper and sit in a quite spot. Don't be afraid to start small.
Then do it.
Then pat yourself on the back, and put the next baby step on your calendar. It's the setting of bite-sized tasks, and the follow through of doing them one by one that makes the biggest goals come to life.
What if your goal is a work-related goal? Does that add more stress? Perhaps you have to meet a sales quota and you're worried you can't hit it, or don't know where to start. The same rule can apply. Don't think about your quota; think about your first step. Is it to call the first person on your list? Is it to make this list? Is it to brainstorm what you will say? Whatever it is, put just that task on your calendar or daily planner, and make sure you do it that day. If you get stuck, break it down smaller, always starting with just the first step. At the end of the week, look back on all the things you've accomplished!
Here are some thoughts to take away:
- Focus on the process rather than the goal
- Break down big, daunting projects into small, approachable tasks
- Think in terms of "next steps" as opposed to the end result
- Follow through and recognize what you've accomplished
- Pass it on!
~Tess Surgies
Gravity Switch Project Manager