Getting Through Ups and Downs

Disruption and turbulence is becoming an every day event. Ways to de-stress and stay focused on your personal and professional goals.

It’s already February, the DOW dropped over 1000 points last week and almost 1200 points again on Monday, the work is piling up on your desk, and your significant other has the flu, requiring you to be home early to take care of the kids and the house. It’s just one month into the new year and already you are feeling overwhelmed – as if you are riding on a speeding train but not quite sure where it is taking you? Take a deep breath, step lightly on the brakes, and think about how to keep this train heading towards your intended destination.

Goals help you to stay focused and on track to get you closer to where you obtain what you want to achieve in the longer-term (e.g., to become a CEO) and objectives frame the actions you take to help you to achieve your goals (e.g. Identify and develop a successor candidate). Adding “Setting 2018 Objectives” to your “to do” list is the last thing you need, and my intention is not to burden you with more work. Identifying meaningful objectives takes time for reflection, but it should not be a complicated process; research has shown that objective setting yields positive ROI, by helping to keep people focused and intentional. Whether you have already identified some important actions to get you from where you are to where you want to be, or if you are just getting started, here is some practical advice for moving you forward. Start with the simple phrase “I AM” to feel empowered and increase your accountability:

Start with the simple phrase “I AM” to feel empowered and increase your accountability:

I : Identify and Inspire: Objectives should be challenging and inspiring , while bringing you closer to achieving your goals. Focus on what you are trying to accomplish and seek opportunities to develop your skills. Incorporate both your personal development objectives (i.e., I am going to be more assertive in expressing my views with the executive committee) and your business objectives (i.e., I am going to raise revenues by $100MM). What are the 2-3 key achievements you are striving towards? What will help you to stand out and have a real impact on yourself, the firm and/or others? As a leader, take into consideration the objectives for your team – as these will set their direction, clarify what work needs to be done, and clarify the skills required.

A : Actionable and Attainable: Objectives should drive behaviors to deliver results. Action-oriented and realistic objectives are motivational, support your development and help to build your capabilities. Think about what you are trying to accomplish, and then determine the step-by-step roadmap (including the what, where, who and when ) that will move you closer to your destination. To determine if your objectives are realistic and attainable, consider past accomplishments, available resources and potential opportunities/ conflicts; competitive benchmarking can also be helpful.

M : Measurable: Objectives that are measurable support your progress. Your motivation to move forward is reinforced when you observe your actions having a positive impact . Set your baseline (where you are now) and identify targets that you wish to attain. Once an objective is accomplished you move on to the next one, gradually moving toward your goal as each target is reached. It can be beneficial to identify “shorter-term targets,” allowing you to assess your progress along the way, recognize your successes, and make adjustments as necessary for future actions.

Example: Goal – To become a CEO
Objective: To raise revenues by $100MM​