Change: Move from Goals to Action
Change happens gradually, one small action at a time.
We know that change is hard. If it wasn’t, then we’d all be the version of ourselves we aspire to be. As a coach I’m in the business of change and as I see it there are two options:
Say “change is hard” and use that as an excuse to quit when you’re faced with road blocks, or have a set back.
Accept change is hard, then set a plan to help keep you on track when you are faced with a challenge.
Option 1 is definitely easier, but isn’t going to get you very far down the path to changing.
Option 2 requires more effort, but that effort is front loaded. Once you have the plan your decisions become simple, follow the plan and see results follow.
The key to a great plan is taking a big, ambiguous goal and making it bite size and actionable. Here’s an example of what that looks like.
Step 1. Set your Goal
First pick ONE goal. There are lots of things you want accomplish, so list them all out. Then pick ONE to focus on first.
E.g. I want to get fit.
Then break down that goal into what that actually means for you.
going to the gym, lifting x weight, running a marathon
Great, you’ve narrowed it down to something more specific and tangible.
Step 2. Identify Skills
Next, brainstorm the skills you need to achieve that goal. There are going to be many, but pick one to focus on for the time being.
Going to the gym 👉 need good time management skills
Step 3. Practice
Now you have a specific skill. Decide what you can do to practice that skill. Make sure it’s something small that you can do easily without much effort.
Block out the time in your calendar for your gym sessions.
Step 4. Action
Time to take action! Practice the skill daily until it becomes easy.
Once a week take 5 minutes to block your workout sessions in your calendar.
Everyday take action on keeping this appointment. You hold that space even if someone wants to book over it, you keep that appointment by showing up.
Congrats, you’ve just taken the first steps to lasting change! At the end of this process you should have a small, easy action you can take everyday that will over time get you to your goal. Once the action because easy and you’re doing it without much thought or effort, then you revisit your bigger list of skills and pick a new one to focus on. Work through steps 3 and 4 again with the new skill.
Change often fails because we’re focusing on the big goal, the end state, when really change is made up of little actions taken daily that eventually become part of us and how we operate.