Most of us have set a goal that we eventually abandoned. It takes a lot of energy, focus and patience to see it through to the end, and it’s easy to get discouraged when you encounter obstacles. If you lose momentum and start prioritizing other tasks, you may forget about achieving the goal entirely.
When you’re taking on a new goal and are determined to see it through, there are plenty of creative ways to keep the momentum going. Here, 12 members of Forbes Coaches Council share their expert advice on what you can do to finish what you start.
1. Wrap The Goal In A Story Or Metaphor
It’s one thing to put a goal down on paper or in a spreadsheet, but it’s another thing to bring it alive through the use of storytelling and imagery. If we can awaken our senses and add some emotional resonance around a goal, we’ll be more likely to stay motivated by it. As a simple example, the pursuit of your goal could be framed as a climb up a mountain. – Glenn Taylor, Skybound Coaching & Training
2. Find An Accountability Partner To Help You
Maintaining momentum and enthusiasm can be difficult if you’re going it alone on a new path. A great way to ensure success is to choose someone to serve as an accountability buddy, cheering squad or sounding board. Knowing that there is someone who will not just ask you how it’s going but also offer support and encouragement, including reminding you why you are engaged in the process, can make all the difference. – Joanne Heyman, Heyman Partners
3. Seek Support From Others Early On
Ensure that you seek support, resources and, if possible, executive sponsorship early on. No one is successful alone. By getting others involved early, you can tap into their knowledge, expertise and energy. You may also be able to avoid booby traps. Other people may also help you refine your goal and/or approach. This will create opportunities for feedback as well, which can be very energizing. – Eugene Dilan, DILAN Consulting Group
4. Reverse Engineer The Attainment Of Your Goal
Start with the idea of the goal having been achieved, then work backward from there, using the best metrics and ideas you can muster. Block the time required to do this. Engage with others who have achieved what you want to achieve. Most importantly, create the experience you want to have as you achieve this. Maybe listen to inspiring music. Reward yourself along the way. – Linda Martin, Linda Martin Results
5. Create A Post-Goal Picture Of Success
Create a picture of success that describes what accomplishing your goal would look like in the ideal state, including mindset, behaviors, actions and how others would support you in the process. Share your goal with others who could engage with you in accomplishing it. Develop proactive recovery plans to address any obstacles and get back on track. Track and celebrate progress. – Mark Samuel, IMPAQ Corporation
6. Think It Through Before Getting Started
Explore what it looks like through both a positive and a critical lens. One of the best ways to stay on track and sustain energy is through WOOP: State your goal, or “Wish.” Identify your desired “Outcome.” Next, what “Obstacles” stand in the way of success? What is your “Plan” to overcome this? Use if/then phrasing—“If this happens, then I will do the following…” – Shelley Hammell, Sage Alliance, Inc.
7. Break The Goal Down Into Smaller Goals
A goal can sometimes seem insurmountable and become overwhelming if it’s perceived as being too big. Therefore, it’s important to chunk the goal down into smaller goals. As these smaller goals are met, confidence grows and momentum builds to complete the overall new goal. – Rakish Rana, The Clear Coach
8. Make Sure Your Goal Harmonizes With Your Vision
Goals must be relevant to and harmonize with your own vision. I recommend the SMART goals path: Every goal and its related tasks should be concrete and specific. Define only a few KPIs to measure your progress. Set challenging but achievable goals and split the necessary measures and actions into feasible smaller steps. I prefer to set tough deadlines to be creative and innovative. – Michael Thiemann, Strategy-Lab™
9. Maintain A Consistent Self-Care Lifestyle
Sustainable energy and focus come from maintaining a self-care lifestyle. Consistent self-care is essential to keeping your energy and focus continuously renewed and effectively managing stress, regulating emotions and being at your best. Self-care can help see you through to achieving any goal by helping you persevere despite whatever hardship or difficulty you may face along the way. – Jacqueline Ashley, DSW, WorkLifeHealth.design
10. Know What Drives You
People who understand their motivations, strengths and passions can leverage them. Use what drives you to structure how you approach tasks, identify when you should tackle certain aspects of a project and decide who to engage with to move things along. Determine what recognition and rewards you will need to stay motivated and set them up to reinforce your progress. – Brad Federman, PerformancePoint LLC
11. Utilize Time Blocking
When you have goals that you want to accomplish, you have to master your calendar. Utilize time blocking and commit yourself to a process. For example, block time on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. for tasks related to your goal. The key is to manage your time well through organized, predictable, structured blocks of time devoted to accomplishing your goal. – Jon Dwoskin, The Jon Dwoskin Experience
12. Anticipate That Extra Time And Effort Will Be Needed
It is essential when setting up a new goal to calculate needing more time and anticipate that extra effort will be required in addition to specialized support. This not only will ensure that the new goal gets accomplished, but will also maintain momentum in the process. By preparing for a marathon, it will help you ensure consistency while preserving energy over a long period of time. – Izabela Lundberg, Legacy Leaders Institute
SAGE Alliance, a Leadership Performance Company; provides executive coaching, team-building, industry leading assessments, workshops and speaking on topics including: building a high-performing team through coaching, developing and optimizing your top talent, delivering commanding communications, creating a lasting impression, making a greater impact through personal branding for executives and high-potentials – for both team and individual leaders.
Shelley Hammell, is the president, CEO and author of You Think You’re Coaching, But You’re Not! available HERE, and is available for book signings and speaking engagements.