2023 is the year of evolution, not revolution, here's why...
Let's explore the power of consistent small steps to build your professional future
Did you wake up on Jan 1st raring to go, with a full set of challenging resolutions and a pint of green juice by your bedside?
Me neither.
On New Year’s Eve, we stayed up until 2:00am watching The Traitors until the very end. So no 6:00am bouncing out of bed to run 5k for us.
(No spoilers here, but wow…)
But…I did start taking a series of small steps towards my ongoing goals - both personal and professional - in 2023.
These aren’t life-changing steps on their own. Think more 10 seconds of cold water in the shower every day vs a Wim Hof style full immersion in an ice bath.
And tailoring my coaching niche so I can help people the most, vs helping most people.
Cumulatively however, they should make a real impact. And that’s what I’m looking for this year. How about you?
Psychologically, evidence suggests that taking a series of small steps towards a goal can be easier and more motivating than tackling it all at once. And therefore it’s a more sustainable approach that will hopefully result in better outcomes.
If you’re in any type of leadership position, you may find this a better way of setting goals with your team and for yourself. It’s certainly more authentic (if less sexy) than setting out a grand vision that you have no hope of achieving.
Candidly, this was my mistake last year. I went all in, in a hurry, on rebranding and launching my own business. My website looks great, but I realise now it’s not tailored to whom I really want to reach, and it doesn’t nail what I am best at and can uniquely offer.
In hindsight, breaking this down into smaller steps would have been the better way to go. It would have taken longer (and patience is not always my strong suit), but I would have avoided the dreaded re-work that now comes with refreshing my approach to consulting and coaching and tailoring it based on the insight I have gleaned.
So my challenge to you this year is this.
What small steps can you take - personal or professional - that will help you make progress towards your goals?
Here are a few examples of what I mean, taken from my own personal and professional list:
Yes - 10 seconds of cold water in the shower every day - for the health and mental health benefits. This is easier than taking a full cold shower and I just get it over with!
Start every day with protein - overhauling my diet is a larger process, but this at least guarantees I’m off on the right foot.
Clear one patch of my allotment every week vs trying and failing to do it all in one day.
Upgrading the compliments slip I send out with orders from my side business, for a better customer experience vs rebranding the entire site.
Writing consistently about my core topics, even if it’s just a paragraph, vs writing long articles for two weeks and then forgetting to post something for another three months.
Re-thinking my core audience for my coaching work vs trying to reach everyone (I have some ideas on this, so stay tuned!)
What are your small steps for 2023? And do you think this is a good approach?
100 ways to slightly improve your life in 2023
In a similar vein, a lot of people have shared this wonderful Guardian article which praises the small and steady approach.
I was pleased to see I do a few of these already. My daughter’s artwork is proudly framed and my spring bulbs are all in, but there are lots more I want to try. I love the fact that these are small steps again. Try them and see if they make a difference!
And finally…
My coaching prompt to you for the next few weeks is this:
“What would be the smallest or easiest first step for you?”
Think about your goals for this year. And break them down. What’s the first step? Take it and see how it feels. Then take the next one. And the next.
You can find me on LinkedIn, on Twitter and at my website: www.narrativepurpose.com where I offer communications consultancy and leadership coaching to individuals, organisations and creative agencies.
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