How many personality assessments have you taken over the course of your career? Whether shining a light on our personal strengths or telling us which Disney character we most resemble, assessments can prompt us to look at our actions and behaviors through a different lens.
And while I prefer well-researched and validated assessments, I did think it might be fun – and perhaps helpful, especially at the start of a new year – to think about goal achievement in terms of personal preferences. Please note these five goal attitudes – goal-itudes, if you will 🙂 – are not based in scientific data, but rather on some tendencies I’ve observed in my 20+ years in business. I’ll share a tip for each, as well as one way (of many) a coach can support you, in case you recognize yourself in any of these examples!
The Strong Starter
Description: You have big energy / motivation when launching your goals but find it waning over time.
Tip: Frontload your action plan to the extent possible, taking advantage of that early momentum.
Coaching: Can provide ongoing accountability and help you connect with your ‘why’ when your energy and focus falters.
The Big-Picture Dreamer
Description: You can easily see the grand result of what could be, but not always the smaller steps needed to get there.
Tip: Create guideposts and checklists to stay on course. (You’ll most likely have a vision board of some sort already in mind!)
Coaching: Can co-create your action plan and help you level up your progress on a regular basis.
The Detail-Oriented Doer
Description: You’re great at crafting the step-by-step plan, but don’t always envision the big picture.
Tip: Craft a vision board, statement, or some visual representation of what you’re moving toward. (You’ll likely create the checklists naturally!)
Coaching: Can help connect the dots between the small actions and the big vision, particularly if you find yourself ‘lost in the weeds’ at times.
The All-Or-Nothing
Description: Similar to a go-big-or-go-home approach, you find yourself doing everything (and soon burning out) or doing nothing (and feeling like you’re not fulfilling your potential).
Tip: Get the ‘all’ out on paper (ie, a breakthrough map), then choose a select number of items (ie, no more than three) to focus your energy on.
Coaching: Can look at the ‘all’ with you then help you prioritize, complete, and move forward smoothly and systematically.
The Continuous Improver
Description: You strive to keep building and enhancing your skills, focusing more on ongoing growth than on a particular end result.
Tip: Give yourself mini-milestones and deadlines, so you enjoy the momentum of completion / accomplishment while continuing to expand your capabilities.
Coaching: Can help you quantify and measure seemingly unquantifiable areas of growth, such as clarity or confidence, and celebrate wins along the way.
For all five goal-itudes, as well as many others not listed here, a coach can help. We still have a few spots left in C+C with Dr. C if you’d like to join us for this guidance, support, and encouragement all year long!
Whatever your attitudes towards goals, intentions, projects, and ideas, I wish you a year filled with meaningful success!