Jan
05
2017
New Year: having a personal vision, mission, strategy and goals
Guest blog by Paula Reid.
It’s the New Year, which typically means new beginnings, new projects, new growth, New Year’s resolutions, and maybe even a new you? I am sure this blog is not going to be the first article you see about the New Year and the new you, but I am not talking about short-spanned resolutions, going on a diet or going up the gym, I’m talking about lifelong eudaemonic happiness – giving you a sense of purpose, autonomy and growth. Dan Pink’s interesting RSA talk on motivation states that these are our three top motivators in life, but how can we even begin to think about how to achieve this?
A bit about me
Let me introduce myself. Or rather, let me introduce my ‘selves’, as I wear many hats. I am a trainer at the Centre, mainly delivering management and leadership courses. I am a Master’s student studying the science of Positive Psychology. I am a ‘Performance Catalyst’ – igniting, inspiring and empowering people to get from where they are now to where they want to be. I am a trainer, coach, facilitator, author and speaker. And finally, I am an adventurer – pushing myself to go further and dig deeper, out of my comfort zone and into my stretch zone to live life to the full.
I have sailed around the world in the Global Challenge round-the-world yacht race and I am the third British woman to ski full distance to the South Pole from the Messner Start. I have also achieved 116 things on my ‘Live Life to the Full’ list.
So, why do I do this?
Well, I believe in living life to the full – we only live once and I think we should make the most of our lives, which means both savouring the moment and seizing the day. Savouring the moment may involve Mindfulness techniques, meditation, being fully present, enjoying the outdoors, noticing everything, and being childlike and curious. However, if you want to truly ‘seize the day’ (Carpe Diem) then here are some suggestions as to how:
1. What’s your personal VISION? What does future success look like for you? Where do you want to be in 5 years’ time? What job title will you have? What will you be earning? What will you be doing, thinking, feeling? What will you have achieved? I suggest you spend one – two hours working on this. Grab a notepad and a pen, sit in a quiet space and let your stream of unconsciousness flow. Then, review all your writings and debrief. What patterns have emerged? What surprised you? What are you going to do about it?
2. What’s your personal MISSION? What footprint or legacy do you want to leave behind? What contribution to the world are you going to gift it with in your lifetime
3. Try to identify your personal VALUES and motivations.
4. What is your STRATEGY to get from where you are now to where you want to be? Our Strategic planning course at the Centre has lots of tools for this that you can apply in the workplace and to your own life.
5. Finally, how are you going to get there? How does your strategy break down into GOALS, and therefore actions and activities? Planning and goal setting are crucial for success – at work and outside of work too.
So, what will you achieve and who will you become in 2017…
Paula Reid is a facilitator, coach and speaker in teamwork, leadership, communications, management and innovation, Paula has worked with many corporate clients, as well as charities, universities, the NHS, Olympic sports teams and Government departments.
