70: Three Words to Drive Your Development

The New Year is a natural time to think about renewal and how to be more effective as a leader. However, some of the typical things many of us do with New Year’s resolutions often end in failure – 88% of the time, according to one study. I look at how three words can help you set the stage for your development actions this year. I discuss how running a marathon helped me understand why so many of us have a hard time tackling so many goals at once. The problem with resolutions: A study by Richard Wiesman in the UK followed 3,000 people for a year and determined that only 12% of people actually fulfill their New Year’s resolutions Intention is easy – but putting the time into action is hard We are going to hit obstacles we don’t anticipate We we bit off more than we can chew, our systems can crumble. I talk about how I made this mistake a bit last year in my planning (see episode #23) and why I tried to do too much all at once. What works better: Reflect on the past year. Ask yourself: What did I do well last year? Where did I fall short? Ask people around you the same questions – talk to people you trust Look at assessments, 360s, performance reviews Examine patterns you are seeing with your team or group of people you lead – it get magnified What are the general themes that emerge of what you want to do differently? One example for me – interaction with others and social media Find three words that can meet it My three: Show Up, Flexibility, and Collaboration Start with one goal that will lead you there Communicate it: Have your 3 words visible Share your words with others Ask others to give feedback/coaching on this This is an effective way to connect with your team as well, as it’s simple for people to remember your goals I’d love to hear your 3 – and also I’d love to hear what works for you in your self-development at the beginning of a year. Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.