3 Ways to Set New Goals in the Next Phase of Coronavirus
We have officially made it to the second half of the year. After the start we had to 2020, that is an accomplishment. Previously I have written about the importance of goal setting, using SPRINTS, and updating as part of a changing world. It will be necessary to think a little differently as the world begins to recover from the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. There are still many unknowns and likely changes ahead. Taking a different approach to goal setting will be a necessary process for the near-term. The mindset you have now is more important than ever in trying to get ahead of your goal setting.
Here are three things you can do to keep a fresh perspective on what goal setting may look like in our current environment.
Stay flexible
If we have learned anything in the past three months is that things will change, and they may change faster than we could have imagined. Staying agile and being able to adjust quickly is key to keeping up. It is a noble thought to have an idea of ‘sticking to it,’ but during times of rapid change, nimbleness takes precedence. Your goals and your thoughts about them will need to evolve and remain as fluid as the situations around us. Knowing this when you set your goals will help you realize it is okay that they may change unexpectedly in the coming days or weeks. Those types of shifts will occur; take the opportunity to adapt and flex with them.
Think Shorter Term - while still looking forward
We all want to keep our eyes on the horizon. Just a few months ago, the long-term might have been measured in quarters or years. Now, that may be weeks or at best months. Using your long-term vision script to help provide guidance, setting shorter-term objectives will likely be more productive to accomplish things when so many dynamic changes are occurring. New spikes in coronavirus outbreaks, travel restrictions, and even local ordinances will continue to create challenges in predicting what might or might not be an option. Keeping your sights on time frames that are more probable will allow for a more effective plan and coordination of resources. As long as you utilize your values and high-level vision to guide you, even small steps will ultimately continue to move you forward, so you still end up closer to your originally planned outcomes.
Prioritize based on what your know now
It has always been impossible to know exactly what the future holds. Now, that is even more of a challenge. Using the adage of ‘control what you can control’ prioritize based on what you know. There are always assumptions made when decisions come into play for any business. We are simply working in a more uncertain period of time. With the flexibility that we discussed above, and knowing that you will be updating goals more frequently, go with what you know right now. When the data changes, adjust accordingly. You must avoid becoming paralyzed by the lack of information. Take what you do have and build the priorities based on that.
The SMART framework still works for almost any goal-setting activity. Applying some of the thoughts above to what that now looks like, here is a quick look at setting SMART goals with an updated vantage point.
Specific (to the changing situation, with flexibility built-in)
Measurable (what is important now)
Attainable (actionable within the fluid environment we are in)
Realistic (within the current environment and new restrictions)
Time (shorter-term mindset that will connect to a bigger picture later)
Goal setting does not have to be impossible, and it indeed should not be abandoned. It just needs to be updated. A new thought process about how your goals may work and how you establish them will help you continue to find success in an ever-changing world. In many cases, we might find out that this new look at goals could work for us regardless of the timing, situation, or world events occurring around us.
How can you apply a new thought process to your goal setting?
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