How to Make 2009 Your Best Year Yet
By Suzanne Bates
As we head into the New Year, the desire to start fresh in 2009 is in the air. The newspapers are still filled with reports of layoffs and restructuring, but that doesn't mean we have to live in the doldrums. In fact, I believe we all want to turn the corner and get going on our goals! We have a choice -- to make a decision that we will succeed - and to define the terms of success. If we take control, we can in fact vow that this will be our best year ever.
How do you define your best year ever? There are many measures - company revenue and profitability are two measures - but there are so many others. What would make this year a success for you, personally and professionally? Will you expand your customer base, build stronger client relationships, or take advantage of untapped markets? Will you elevate your own professional visibility through speaking, writing and high profile projects or leadership roles to become known in your company or industry? Will you become an even better leader, and motivate and inspire your team to get results-even in challenging times?
Having your best year ever means defining what a best year is. I am a member of the Women Presidents Organization - and every year we complete a questionnaire called My Best Year Yet. Among the questions are:
- What did I accomplish this year?
- What were my biggest disappointments?
- What did I learn?
- What roles do I play?
- What will be my important roles this year?
As a leader it's important to carefully consider the last two questions. Many of my clients who have moved from a management to a leadership role aren't always sure they are doing "leader things." As managers, we are accustomed to checking off our task lists - efficiently and effectively. But a task list alone will not make 2009 your "best year yet." You need to set big, exciting goals and have a plan and the attitude to achieve them.
One of the reasons I wrote my newest book, Motivate Like a CEO, Communicate your Strategic Vision and Inspire People to Act (McGraw Hill, January 2009), was to show how effective leaders actually embrace a higher level role -- the responsibility of motivating and inspiring others. As I interviewed leaders in many industries it became clear that they were themselves inspiring. Most shared two qualities - they were engaged in a powerful purpose or mission, and they were passionate about what they do.
As a leader when you work with purpose and passion, people around you are inspired. We all want to make a difference. We want our work to matter. We want to make an impact. Perhaps your best year yet should be defined by the impact you have on others - enabling and empowering them to achieve great things. When you align your organization with purpose and ignite passion in others, you are bound to be successful. And this is something that is within your control, no matter what the economic climate.
I've prepared a very simple, but extremely powerful questionnaire that I guarantee will get you focused on making this your best year yet. The method is foolproof- you look back on 2009 as if it has already happened. It will completely reframe the way you think about goal setting and free you to do your best work in the coming year.
Next step: Get in touch for the NEW 2009 Goal Setting Questionnaire
The NEW questionnaire is available at no charge and we can e-mail it to you immediately. Please contact Shellie Dunlap, sdunlap@bates-communications.com and simply request the 2009 Goal Setting Questionnaire.