Goal setting in the new year

It's time! It's that time of year where I get excited to work with my clients on their visions and prayers for the new year. This can be an exciting time but also an overwhelming time for some clients. They are looking forward to all the promises and freshness that a new year brings but they're also a little overwhelmed due to all of the possibilities and choices they have.

This is where my life coach training shines. Using the life categories method alongside the SMART goals method, I help people come up with goals that are not only attainable but also realistic. Goals should make us stretch in growth, not feel as if it's a massive to do list that makes us feel like a failure if we don't achieve everything on the list.

But how do I create goals that are not just a bunch of wishes? Let's use an example from the life cateogires method. The career / business category. First, we rate your satisfaction where you currently are. If you're at a 4 (out of 10), we look to see why you feel that category is so low. Then we look to see what would make that category score go up. For example, if you want to realistically be at an 8 by the end of the year, what would it take to get there?

Is a promotion the thing that would get you there? Great. What are the job requirements of the next level at your company? Do you need a certifion? Do you need more training? Do you need to apply for your company's own managment path course? What do you need to do to be a better candidate?

Then we get detailed. Ok we know we want a promotion, we know we need a certicicaiton. Where do we get the certification? How much is the course? Etc. Breaking goals down into actionable steps is an important part of achieving them. If your goal is to be a team manager by the end of the year but you have no idea how to get there then it's not an attainable goal at the moment. You need a road map.

Working through these steps can be overwhelming but not when you break them down into bite sized "can do" items. I suggest getting a new fresh notebook or journal and writing your life categories on the top of each page with 3-5 goals for each area. Make sure the goal is attainable. Being a Prima Ballerina for the New York City Ballet if you're 55 and have never danced, is not an attainable goal. Finding a luncheon group full of Christian women at a new church is an attainable goal.

I am currently creating some worksheets to help with goal setting, so I will update this post when they are ready, they will be available in my shop. If you would like to check into my life coaching services to help you reach your goals this year, please contact me for an apointment here.