By Thomas Davis, CRNA, MAE, DNAP candidate
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It’s the first week in July and the half-time show is over. If you joined the throng of hopefuls in January by writing a list of initiatives to accomplish by year’s end, it’s time to revive and resuscitate, or discard and delete. Here’s how to recover your footing and breathe new life into dead projects.
- Review your goals. Reflect thoughtfully on the list you generated so enthusiastically six months ago and decide which things are keepers and which ones can go to the bin. Which items can potentially have a positive effect on your workplace if achieved? If the team or the organization has moved on and a listed item no longer applies, delete it or store for later; however, if a particular goal remains pertinent or will set you and the group up for future success, leave it on the list.
- Condense your resolutions. Following your review of goals, shrink the “good list” further to those that will have the most impact. Notate your priorities and commit to accomplishing them within the remaining time frame.
- Re-write your goals. Your notated priorities must be realistic, specific, and written in a format that is easily understood. For example, “improving efficiency” is nebulous; but, adding “as evidenced by” provides clarity and focus to the intended outcome. Rather than having a goal “to improve pre-op efficiency,” you might clarify the goal by adding “to speed the pre-op workflow as evidenced by a 50% reduction in the number of first case delays.” A goal to ensure that supplies are available could be stated as “ensure the availability of supplies as evidenced by completion of the inventory every Monday, and submission of order form every Tuesday.” Put into writing both the goal and a quick description of what constitutes success. Review the list at established and realistic intervals – weekly, bi-monthly, monthly – to maintain your focus on a positive outcome.
- Change your mindset. Proactive, asset-based thinking turns your attention to what resources are available and what can be accomplished. Dismiss all thoughts about what or why goals were not achieved in the past and laser-beam on what can be done in the upcoming months. You have already reduced your goals to one or two achievable items, now block the extraneous distractions and stick with the plan.
- Develop the plan. If the majority of your expectations during the first half of the year are still unfulfilled, something needs to change. Start again by developing and following a realistic, results-oriented plan over the next 6 months. A viable plan should help get you back on track while teaching you valuable lessons about organizing future projects. Other aspects of a solid plan should ensure that you have the necessary resources available. It should include modifying your environment to remove clutter and fill the void with items that support achievement of the goal. Acknowledging that time is a valuable resource, your plan should create a new schedule eliminating activities that sabotage, while adding a block of time for activities that support achievement. Stay aware that some activities are mutually exclusive; if you have a personal plan to increase networking by engaging in more one on one time with colleagues, you may have to reduce the time you spend answering email or doing other administrative tasks.
- Work for small victories. Your desired outcome can seem daunting based on today’s new starting line of six months out. To stay grounded, remember: Completing a 26-mile marathon is an overwhelming concept for many people; however, celebrating the passing of each mile marker generates an image of progress and makes the goal seem attainable. Acknowledge each challenge and celebrate each milestone.
Among the many benefits of having a personal vision for improving the workplace are two significant ones – improved team morale and elevated respect for the leader. Being the driver for those improvements should empower you and trigger a thirst for even greater success. If you have brought closure to your professional initiatives for 2019, kudos to you; start another list. If you reached halftime with your goals stalled in spam, revive, reboot and get back in the game. July first is chance to double down after halftime.
Tom is a noted author, enthusiastic speaker, committed leadership developer and superb clinical anesthetist. Contact tom@prosynex.com to book a speaking engagement.