{"id":29753,"date":"2023-07-18T13:14:37","date_gmt":"2023-07-18T11:14:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/benelux.vps.buzztestserver.co.uk\/en\/?post_type=resources&p=29753"},"modified":"2024-09-04T11:03:04","modified_gmt":"2024-09-04T09:03:04","slug":"course-correcting-and-following-through","status":"publish","type":"resources","link":"https:\/\/benelux.vps.buzztestserver.co.uk\/en\/resources\/course-correcting-and-following-through\/","title":{"rendered":"Course-correcting and Following Through"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This article originally appeared on Microlearning<\/a>, our bite-sized online solution for leaders and individual contributors.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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You know what they say about the best-laid plans. How can you ensure that yours don\u2019t go awry? Here are some pointers to keep you on track.<\/p>\n

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1. Involve others for planning and support purposes.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In\u00a0creating an action plan<\/a>\u00a0to reach your work goals, it\u2019s likely that you will have identified co-workers, customers, or others (don\u2019t forget about your boss!) whose help you\u2019ll need along the way. Don\u2019t wait to spring your requests on them when these needs arise \u2014 instead, share your action plan, explain how you see them becoming involved, and ask for their input. You may need to go back to the drawing board and revise your plan. Better now than after you\u2019ve already invested gobs of time doing the wrong thing.<\/p>\n

Others can also provide doses of encouragement and friendly nagging. Ask a friend or mentor to check in with you periodically about your goals. Just as a marathon runner appreciates a high-five from a fan on the sidelines, you\u2019ll gain fresh momentum knowing that others are watching and rooting for you.<\/p>\n

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2. Start small.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Even if you\u2019ve gone to the trouble of crafting a spectacular action plan, it can still be tough to get started. Identify the very first thing you need to do \u2014 preferably something small and easy. Even if it\u2019s just scheduling a meeting, making a phone call, or spending a half-hour brainstorming, you will have taken the first step.<\/p>\n

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3. Break your goals down into smaller, more doable tasks.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Let\u2019s say you have a goal of becoming a manager. Sounds great. But it\u2019s not exactly something you\u2019re going to be able to fit in over lunch one day.<\/p>\n

You could, however, take steps toward that goal over many lunches. Think through everything that would need to happen in order for you to become a manager. Perhaps you need to improve your conflict resolution skills, learn how to create a budget, and do a bang-up job on the next product release to get your manager\u2019s attention. You could sign up for a four-week noontime class on budgeting, start roleplaying conflict situations with your mentor every Wednesday when you meet for coffee, and work through lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays to devote extra time to the product release. If you follow a plan like that, you probably won\u2019t be wondering in a year why you didn\u2019t find time to work on your skills \u2026 and why you didn\u2019t get the promotion!<\/p>\n

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4. Make your goals visible, and schedule time to review them.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Goals and action plans are not meant to gather dust in a file cabinet (or in your brain). Post them somewhere you\u2019ll see them every day. Schedule time on your calendar to review them and assess your progress. Incorporate a weekly discussion of them into your regular\u00a01-on-1s\u00a0with your manager.<\/p>\n

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5. Don\u2019t be afraid to revise or even reject your goals.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Over the course of reviewing your goals, you might come to the conclusion that you\u2019re not getting as much out of pursuing one as you expected, or that you were way off in estimating the time it would take. Or, something could happen that significantly changes your work environment \u2014 such as a new leader joining your company, or a sudden move by one of your company\u2019s competitors. Blindly following through on your goals, rather than adjusting to emerging information and shifts in the landscape, can be just as bad (or worse!) than never following through.<\/p>\n

Denial is dangerous. If doubts or new challenges emerge, openly acknowledge them \u2014 to yourself and others. Talk them through with your manager and others involved in your goals. And don\u2019t hesitate to go back to your original goals and plans and either adjust them or, in extreme situations, jettison them. This attitude is especially important in dynamic and fast-paced work environments.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s an example of how you might adjust a goal:
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