Based on Gallup Poll findings, 24 percent of New Year’s Resolutions are broken in the very first week. And 53 percent are broken within six months! By year’s end, 92 percent are broken. So how are you doing with your resolutions? Or, have you adopted the “I’m not making any resolutions” response?

I have a suggestion: Make those resolutions, but keep them a secret! Why do that? I recently watched a video on TED talks by Derek Sivers, stating that research shows if we share our goals/resolutions with someone, we are less likely to accomplish them than if we had just kept them to ourselves. Psychologists call this phenomenon a “social reality” that kinda tricks our brain into thinking that we have already accomplished something. The act of sharing and people responding positively gives the similar kind of pleasure that we receive from actually achieving our goals. Therefore, we state the goal, get a positive response and we feel good about ourselves – which translates to a feeling of accomplishment. What’s missing? The actual doing. Another year goes by and we’ve failed at achieving our goals. What will help us move from just sharing to the doing? Handwrite the goals and the needed steps (for your eyes only) and review them daily. Spend 15 minutes each day working on the next step. At the end of each week ask yourself these questions:

· What did I accomplish this week toward my goal?

· What got in my way?

· What am I doing right?

· What do I need to do differently?

Make any necessary adjustments and repeat the process.

Can I make another suggestion about your resolutions? Since most leaders want to be better leaders, here are a couple of goals that you may want to consider:

· Commit to your personal development. Find a coach who will challenge you. Read one article a week about leadership. Pick one competency you want to be stronger in, and work at it every day.

· Connect with those you lead on a deeper level. Make it a point to speak to them on a regular basis just to say hello. Find out what’s important to them. Send a handwritten note thanking them for a specific contribution. Smile more often.

And one last suggestion: Do not overcommit. You are also less likely to attain any of your goals if you create too many. Pick 3-4 goals. You can add more (no one is going to know) later if you need additional ones.

Ok, once you have committed yourself to the goals, do not tell anyone. It is your secret. Let me know what happens. I’m betting this will be your best year!

JoAnn Auger

Executive Coach and Trainer, MSBCoach

JoAnn Auger serves as a coach/consultant/educator with MSBCoach. JoAnn’s experience was developed through for the largest auto insurer in the US. JoAnn incorporates more than 30 years of business and personal experience to help organizations and individuals identify and close gaps in performance and needed results. She does that by helping leaders maximize their own potential and then teaches that leader how to tap into and leverage the potential of their employees.

JoAnn is certified and trained in the following areas:

• Myers Briggs Type Indicator(MBTI)
• Human Performance Improvement(HPI)
• Coaching Core Essentials Program(CEP) and Essential
• Conversations for Developing Others(Corporate Coach)
• Essential Facilitation
• Criterion-Reference Instructional Design(CRI)
• DiSC
• FIRO-B