After the year we’ve all had, we are certain of one thing: you want to create a plan for 2021 to be A LOT better than 2020!
But just as the week before Christmas showed us, the best laid plans can be sent into disarray by circumstances out of our control.
As disappointing as it may be to have to change plans last-minute, or to not achieve goals due to the unexpected, it’s still important to design your business, career or life the way you want it.
We call it having a life by design, not by default.
(And even if your plan for 2021 is thrown into chaos, we’re now all experienced in delaying plans and going with the flow!)
So whether you are a business owner, manager, or employee – or you are just thinking about your personal life – there is a quick and easy way to start on your goals.
Your wish-list for 2021 might include work-life balance, a profitable business, a happy and productive team, and achievement of some personal goals around fitness or lifestyle.
So how do you ensure you get what you want in 2021, and what happens is by design and not default?
Follow the four simple steps below…
1. Review 2020’s Highlights
Before making future plans it’s important to review where you are now and how far you’ve come.
Start by thinking back to January 2020. How different was life and business then? Despite 2020’s challenges, what did you accomplish over the year? How did your business grow and change? What happened in your career? What personal goals did you achieve?
Write down your achievements in all areas of your life and work – business growth and mastery, career, learning, family, fun, health and wellbeing.
Take a moment to appreciate how your life has changed and what you’ve done to create that. Congratulate yourself on your achievements so far.
And if all you feel you have achieved is survival, congratulate yourself on that too! You will have learned a great deal about dealing with disappointment, overcoming obstacles, dealing with change, and resilience.
2. Picture Your Future In Review
Now imagine yourself this time a year from now, at the end of 2021, doing the same exercise. If you were looking back on 2021, what would your achievements be?
Assume that the year will largely go to plan. Take at least 10 minutes to really think this through. List all you’ve gained in terms of business turnover and profit, the types of clients you’ve attracted, career moves, office relocation or upgrades, success you’ve helped your clients to achieve, fitness or family wins, personal achievements, what you’ve learned… any result you’d like to see by the end of the year.
3. Create Your Plan for 2021
Bring your mind back to the present day. The list you’ve just made is now your goal list for 2021. Make sure each goal passes the test of being measurable, realistic, and time-framed. Get specific. Instead of grow business you might write increase turnover by 20% and profit by 10% by 31 December 2021.
Put a date next to each goal. If you can’t be specific, narrow it down to be something you’ll accomplish by end of Q1, Q2, Q3 or Q4.
And make sure what you want to achieve is within your sphere of influence or control (other than the unexpected like a global pandemic). There’s no point stating what you want someone else to do, if you have no power over their actions. So instead of Get supervisors to perform to standard you could write Learn skills to more effectively manage supervisors and enforce their KPIs by 31 March. You can choose to be a better manager and hold them accountable, but their response and actions will ultimately be up to them.
4. Get A Coach To Help You And Your Team
If you’re a business owner, as our clients appreciate, setting goals and having a business plan is just the start. Finding someone to support you, guide you, and keep you accountable will ensure your success.
A great business coach will work with the business owners, managers and team to ensure the business reaches its goals. A great business coach will also support you to achieve your personal and lifestyle goals.
Are you a business owner? Do you need to plan for 2021? Book your complimentary discussion with our business coaches today.
If you’re a business manager or employee, suggest Yellow Coaching’s services to the decision makers in your business. We’ll arrange a complimentary meeting with them to discuss the needs of the business and team.
How Business Coaching Will Help
Business improvement helps owners, employees, their families, and the community. When shown what’s possible and given the right tools, strategies and support, businesses and the people in them can achieve their full potential.
Yellow’s coaches work with the owners, managers and teams of established businesses of any size within the private sector; and with executives, managers and team members at all levels within Government and not-for-profit organisations.
Whomever they are working with, their goal is to assist business leaders to maximise the potential of themselves, their team, and their business.
Yellow’s coaches achieve this through:
- business coaching
- executive mentoring
- leadership and management training
- strategic planning
- conference and workshop facilitation
- keynote speaking, and
- team member coaching.
They also provide team training on numerous topics including effective sales techniques, business marketing, outstanding customer service, time and priority management, improving team culture and morale, efficient systems and processes, resilience, and change management.