A 2011 study reported that effort levels were not affected by anticipated positive emotions[1] Translation→No matter how excited and psychologically pumped we are about a goal, our potential to successfully achieve it, is determined by our day-to-day, hour-to-hour actions. Goal planning is essential to craft momentum. And sadly, Excitement ≠ Momentum.
WHAT?!! Does this mean that my joyful anticipation of the “svelte, 20 pounds lighter, me” will not fuel my desire to jump on the elliptical for 30 minutes every day? That’s right. The confounding reality is: Our potential to achieve ongoing personal and professional goals requires planning and behavioral changes that are easily manipulated by our attitude flux, the ebb and flow of our emotions and logic.
So What About Your 2012?
If you have not considered your 2012 plan, you are running out of January days to do it. How will you do it? How will you develop attitudes, create realistic and attainable goals, and design a strategy that increases your capacity for achievement? Achievement is a result of one key element: decisive action. After all,
- Achievement = Success!
- Success = Bragging Rights!
- Bragging Rights = Fuel for 2013!
So Be Decisive!
As a rule, most decisions are really a series of choices. Large or small, the ability to be successfully decisive has little to do with personality, but more to do with our ability to analyze a situation and plan actionable ways to approach each piece, or step, of the challenge.
Another aspect of decisiveness is the combination of our logic and the emotional facets of our personality. This combination, our intuition, will influence our best made decisions. Intuition, some call it our sixth sense, can serve us well as we apply our personal experiences and daily applications of formal learning to a scenario. However, intuition is sometimes elusive. We simply cannot always sense the right outcome.
So, What Do You Do?
Set clearly defined goals. Establish long-range, intermediate, and short-range goals. Tether the goals to specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely elements (SMART Goals). Setting goals will help you to determine if the decisions you are about to make will accomplish your goals. Your top priority must be to make decisions that are consistent with your goals. So, consider the process of decision-making, the process each of us uses, as an habitual way of choosing between alternatives. Develop your style for decisive behaviors and you will make 2012 a year to brag about! [2]
♦♦♦
[1] Nelissen – 2011 – British Journal of Health Psychology – Wiley Online Library
[2] Dr. Deborah Frey is CEO/Founder and Lead Coach for FreyWorks & Associates Consulting, LLC. FreyWorks provides processes to improve lives and provide organizations with unlimited potential. Deborah holds an earned Doctorate of Management in Organizational Leadership, and a Master’s of Education in Workforce Development. Deborah is a certified analyst for the Innermetrix® Assessments Series for Advanced Insights, Attribute Index (AI), DISC and Values Index. She is a lifelong educator and learner to improve attitudes and behaviors. Inspired by more than 30 years of work in business, higher education, manufacturing, and technology, Deborah is devoted to helping others live more satisfying days on and off the job. An inspiring keynote speaker and facilitator, she will challenge, entertain and, most importantly, provide takeaway tools to use RIGHT NOW! Dr. Frey can be reached via email at: debfrey@freyworks.com Listen to Deborah on 30-Minute Business Dig, with her Co-Host, Lisa Kanda on BlogTalkRadio.com!
Related articles
- Can You Decide? How Do You Turn Your Goals into Action? (freyworks.wordpress.com)
- Why Hire a Coach? (freyworks.wordpress.com)
