The World's First UnPredictably Fun Newsletter
Happy New Year!
January is prime time for all things planning. The year is fresh, our hopes are up, and we set lofty goals that sometimes get abandoned by April. If you are about to embark on your planning process, or if you plan to plan, or are planning to plan to plan, or if you are thinking about planning to plan a day to plan the planning plan...remember,
SMART Goals are DUMB!
We care enough to tell you the truth. Most people try to set SMART goals because they think they are supposed to, and this magic formula is the only legitimate way to do it. Then they get bogged down in trying to make sure reality matches the mystical acronym. Goal setting doesn't have to be so complicated.
Instead, focus on habits and measurements. Ask yourself, "What habit can I change that will move the needle towards (fill in the blank)?" Then, abandon the S, R, and A of the formula and define the process of measuring the habit. "How will I measure this? How often?"
When you start with the measurement, it forces you to be specific in your outcomes, and to do all the other things you are "supposed to" do. Don't worry if the measurement is not 100% respresentative of the goal you are trying to achieve.
Focus on the Possibilities, Not Problems
When teams begin strategic planning with a list of problems to solve, they rarely generate meaningful ideas and often replicate the same thinking and processes that led to those problems.
Try this discussion exercise:
"It's one year from now, and we are at a fancy dinner celebrating everything we've accomplished this year as an organization. Let's mentally review the year and then write down what has already happened. What did we do? What were the significant moments or milestones in our journey? How did it feel to accomplish all of these achievements? Who deserves recognition for carrying the team or top shelf results?"
Discuss these moments and memories, and don't be surprised if a core part of your plan emerges like magic.
Dig Deeper
Check out our conversation with Organizational Ecologist, John Losey of the IntoWisdom Group, on Strategic Planning. In this two-part episode, we cover:
- Success stories of Strategic Planning.
- How does “picturing success” affect our personal, professional, or organizational planning?
- Why trust falls, don't build trust
- Where is the wildest place you fell asleep?
- And more!
If you want a professional facilitator to help you with your planning process this January, schedule a WorkPlay | FREE Discovery Session with us!
“Progress is made by the improvement of people, not the improvement of machines.”
-Adrian Tchaikovsky
That's all for now. More tools and treats are coming when you least expect them.
Cheers,
Mark Suroviec, M.Ed.
Chief Ambassador of Fun at WorkPlay Solutions
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