3 proven strategies to make this year ‘Your Year’
We all tend to enter into a New Year with the mindset of it being an opportunity to reset, start again and achieve those goals we have been striving for.
How many of you have said to yourself ‘This is going to be the year’.
When I sat down to write this article, I knew I had a choice. To write the things that will stop you from making this your year (trust me, there are a lot!), or to give you some strategies to help set you up to achieve your goals and targets in 2021.
We are also coping with a 3rd National Lockdown and our initial motivation may have been somewhat knocked. It’s all too easy to write and talk about what we do badly, so I’m going to share with you 3 strategies that will not only give you a head start, but help you to stay on track with both your business and leadership success this year.
Number 1 – The power of the decision
When someone decides to climb Everest, they don’t start by planning the ‘how’, they start by making the decision that they will get to the top. Once the decision is made, the path of ‘how’ will start to emerge.
For example, if you are thinking of taking your business from £10m a year to £15m a year, don’t start with ‘how’ you are going to do it.
You first need to decide – with all your body and mind – that you will achieve £15m. If you start with the ‘how’ you can fall into the trap of finding so many reasons why you can’t do it or why it will be hard.
By starting with the committed decision to do it, you will start to find the natural energy and strategies that will help you achieve that goal.
So this year, make the decision on ‘what’ you are going to achieve and the ‘how’ will take care of itself.
Number 2 – Mindset first
STOP DOING! Start thinking. Your mindset is what will make this year great or average.
“Everything begins inside your mind. With the right mindset you will succeed.”
To change your results you need to change the way you think.
Look back over the last year and reflect on your levels of thinking and how you thought about various situations.
For example: if you are currently resisting change and trying to keep things working the way you like them – yet you are not seeing the results you expect – then you are currently in a fixed mindset and will become stuck.
We are certainly in times of change and the key is to accept and adapt to what is being given to us.
Change your mindset to being curious and open to ideas and suggestions for alternatives.
Be okay if they don’t work straight away or need tweaking.
This is all part of growing and elevating the results you can achieve.
A business or leader who doesn’t embrace change will get left behind and fade away.
Take charge of your mind and set it to the right place in order to move towards success.
Number 3 – You don’t need to be liked and you don’t need to be right
Too many leaders stay average because their core needs are to be liked and to be right.
It’s part of the leadership journey, but if this is to be ‘Your Year’ then this level of thinking needs to upgrade.
Set yourself up for success by backing your ideas, finding your signature voice and not falling into the trap of people-pleasing and wanting to fit in.
Be totally okay to not know everything. It’s fine. You are human. Having a leadership title doesn’t mean you become a walking encyclopedia! It’s just not possible and putting this expectation on yourself will distract you from what really matters.
The best kind of leaders are open to learning and continued development.
Be the difference that makes the difference. Your business and team will thank you for it.
So there you are. My gift to you for the start of the year – three manageable yet proven strategies to help set you up for success in 2021.
Joanna Howes is a leading coach, behavioural expert, and No 1 best selling international author, who specialises in leadership and business operations. If any of these have resonated with you and you would like to explore how a coach can guide you to achieve your success, please book a free call using this link to discuss how Joanna can help you achieve your goals faster and easier than ever before. To see how else Joanna can help visit her website here.
