Restoring Confidence and Momentum
I particularly liked the interview with Rosabeth Moss Kanler and how confidence plays in to how you set, engage, and achieve goals. Confidence can wax and wane with a myriad of factors in someone’s life, but the trick is that when confidence wanes that we find ways to not get sucked in to it and lose momentum and vision. She mentioned optimism, hope, and activity as the three main antidotes to combat confidence lulls that pull us away from achieving our goals. Setting up small, attainable tasks to be completed can provide the pick-me-up needed to continue towards the longer term goal.
I find my goal-setting struggle linked primarily to focus and endurance since I can identify several major goals to pursue but lack the resources to pursue all of them simultaneously. Though the lesson had some good suggestions on how to prioritize goals, I am wondering if there are other suggestions out there, or perhaps practical applications of prioritizing goals (?).
Marilyn,
yes, when we get these quick wins we feel energized & excited & then are prepared to move to the bigger challenges.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I can certainly see the value of striving to achieve some of the goals that may be a bit easier to attain. This can be quite motivating and help to encourage a positive environment.
Carla,
this is so true, especially to those who are really driven by achievement.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I love the idea of "low-hanging fruit" goals. I definitely feel the burst of energy when I feel I have achieved something, which has definitely been helping restore my confidence. I also have begun to utilize long lists that I can cross off. It sure helps to look at a page of crossed-off items, no matter how quick a phone call it may have been.
I have become a very task-based, list driven individual in order to complete all of my daily requirements. The great thing about lists is the more things I check off my list, the more motivated I become. The same goes with goal setting and achievement. The more goals attained the more motivated the group is to attain the next goal. And so on and so forth. I find tackling difficult and complex goals first with intermittent small goal achievements helps keep my team motivated and moving forward. The small achievements help increase confidence along the way while completion of the major goal supplies the motivation to keep pushing forward. In addition, breaking down larger goals into smaller tasks/objectives, serves the same benefit by giving small doses of confidence while pursuing the larger task.
I couldn't agree more. One thing I've found concerning activity (productive activity as opposed to motiveless busy-work)is that it can provide a momentum all on its own which, with the inertia once overcome, can continue carrying a team on towards the original goals by generating a new cyvle of momentum. The same can certainly happen on an individual basis, as well. Otherwise, simply stopping and succumbing to the inertia is a sure-fire way to fail.
Debbie,
and often this is a good place to focus as we can really see the difference we can make.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Quite often I choose goals in which I have a passion to work on. But if I'm struggling with work, projects, miscommunication and other problems, I feel better setting and working on tougher goals. I'd rather concentrate on the areas that really bother me.
Heather,
a couple methods that I've found that have worked for me: 1)prioritize based on organizational goals; which of your goals is most closely aligned to a major initiative or area of focus for the organization, pursue this first as it's a win-win. 2) is there any "low-hanging fruit" meaning goals that are little easier to attain so you can get them done & have a burst of energy for the more challenging ones.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
