GOAL SETTING FOR A WINNING 2023
The first two months have rushed past us, and with it so have many of our goals, plans and resolutions. In fact, studies show that 95% of the plans we make for ourselves in the new year are abandoned as early as the second week of January! Wanted to lose 15 pounds and start a healthier lifestyle? Chances are, you gave up the moment you broke your diet and binged on fast food. Wanted to save money? Once that big Sale sign came up, your resolve flew out the window too. Isn’t it frustrating to start the year with such good intentions that we just can’t keep?
To find out how to set goals we can stick to and pursue throughout 2023, watch this chat between ICF Master Certified Coach Julius Ordoñez and Benchmark Coach Mia Zamora.
The first two months have rushed past us, and with it so have many of our goals, plans and resolutions. In fact, studies show that 95% of the plans we make for ourselves in the new year are abandoned as early as the second week of January! Wanted to lose 15 pounds and start a healthier lifestyle? Chances are, you gave up the moment you broke your diet and binged on fast food. Wanted to save money? Once that big Sale sign came up, your resolve flew out the window too. Isn’t it frustrating to start the year with such good intentions that we just can’t keep?
To find out how to set goals we can stick to and pursue throughout 2023, watch this chat between ICF Master Certified Coach Julius Ordoñez and Benchmark Coach Mia Zamora.
GOAL MANAGEMENT TOOLKIT
5 GOAL HACKS
Here’s a list of 5 goal hacks you can use:
- Use SMARTER Goals. Goals can sometimes be overwhelming, especially when they’re important to you. Using the SMARTER framework (see below) can help clarify them and go beyond the usual SMART framework.
- Write down your goals. “What gets written, gets done.” Track your progress, share them with others, tweak and modify when needed.
- Make them visible. Find a way to display your goal list where you can easily see them- on your desk, on the fridge, on the bathroom mirror…anywhere that can remind you of where you want to be.
- Break them down. It’s easier to begin and keep going when the goal is broken down into more bite-sized parts and simple tasks that you can do.
- Identify obstacles. Do you already know the challenges you will face along the way? Being able to anticipate your waterloos or roadblocks to success will make them less intimidating so that you can plan around them.
KICKING BAD HABITS
Nothing can kill a goal faster than bad habits that get in the way. Psychologists define habits as acquired behaviors or thought patterns, which we repeat so often that they become automatic. We develop habits because they free up our brains to do other things that require our focused attention. It’s often hard to spot them, because they’re unconscious and automatic. And bad habits can be difficult to break, because they usually start out as enjoyable or stress-relieving activities that we want to repeat… but it’s not impossible to overcome them. Here are some strategies you can try:
AUTHENTIC LEADERSHIP IN TODAY’S TIMES
Special Feature by Coach Lynne Reyes, ACC
(Benchmark ACTP and Advanced Coaching Alumna)
Why is authenticity important in leadership? What does it mean and why is it relevant today? What are its benefits?
Whether one is at the helm of an organization, the leader of a community, a student role model, or a self- propelled leader, there are traits and qualities one needs to demonstrate to say that he or she is being authentic. These qualities DO NOT come naturally for many, but the good news is, they can be learned and practiced.
The concept of authenticity in the workplace is not new. There were talks about it as early as the 1960’s and it became the focus of attention in 2003 when author, Bill George, released his book, Authentic Leadership: Rediscovering the Secrets to Creating Lasting Value. It has become a buzzword nowadays due to the Covid-19 pandemic that brought about many changes in the way we work and the way we live, all proving unsettling and uncomfortable to many. We have heard it repeatedly, “normal” isn’t ever coming back and we need to brace ourselves for the new normal, the hybrid solutions and new ways of working.
With the right approach to leadership, the pain and discomfort from all these changes can lead to transformative and positive benefits for the people and the organization.
What then is Authentic Leadership?
Peter Anderton, subject matter expert from the UK and who has graced the Ted Talk series in what is considered one of the top 5 leadership presentations, has this to say: “Authentic Leadership is showing up as who we really are, trying to be ourselves brilliantly. Turning up at the top end of who we really are and less of trying to be somebody else. It is an understanding of who we really are, what we stand for, what we believe in, the values we adhere to, our purpose, our cause our calling and why we do what we do, our strengths and weaknesses and then behave in a transparent way that draws all of these things together.”
Margo Hoyt, Managing Director of Talent and Leadership Development at LHH has this to say: “Authentic leadership is when you can see a clear and consistent set of values through a leader’s actions and words – regardless of the situation. This leadership approach is particularly beneficial during times of change and transformation when trust, collaboration and engagement are of paramount importance. Authentic leadership is more than a trend or a buzzword. It is a highly effective approach to leading a team. When you make a concerted effort to be candid, transparent, and a bit vulnerable, you open the door for your team members to do the same. A leader’s actions have the power to influence workplace culture and empower both individuals and teams.”
Here are the top traits of an authentic leader:
- Self-awareness – a well-developed understanding of who he is, his strengths and limitations and his uniqueness.
- Effective listening skills – he seeks to understand other’s points of view, receives the other person wholly without passing judgement and in the process develops trust in the relationship.
- Emotional control – he in on top of his feelings and will deliver honest feedback without allowing his emotions to affect his good judgement.
- Relationship-driven – he knows the value of building relationships as much as results.
- Empathy – he seeks to understand the needs and motivations of his people and their intrinsic values. He makes an effort to understand the thoughts and feelings of his people.
- Humility – he exhibits authentic behavior by getting his ego out of the way. Leadership is no longer about him but of the people he serves and who he wants to develop as the next, future leaders.
- Long-term goals – he shares those goals with others and allows them to engage in the pursuit of them.
- Internal code of ethics – no leader can display an ethical behavior without a positive moral compass that is resistant to external pressures.
The benefits of authentic leadership go far and deep. Trust is built, open communications follow, people become more engaged, they feel like coming to a workplace which is more a friendly and inclusive community than a place of just work, where they can bring themselves wholly and where they can thrive with social connectivity knowing that they are seen, heard and valued. All these result to better satisfaction and longevity in the workplace.
We can surmise that the more these benefits take place, the higher the likelihood that people will be motivated to go over and above their minimum requirements at work. As a certified professional coach, I have personally seen traits of authenticity in action in the workplace and in my coaching sessions. Here are a couple of real-life examples from executives and senior leaders in various organizations when asked about their thoughts on authentic leadership.
“Having empathy. Knowing and understanding each individual in the team. Empowering them and giving them a ‘playground’ where they can develop new ideas, thereby harnessing the power of the team.” – Director of Marketing Communications, Leading Beverage Company
“I am an accountant and the nature of my training makes me exacting, making compliance by people challenging. I went inward and asked myself if I could get outside of that rigid box without having to sacrifice the results we needed. I became more sensitive to the needs of others, listened more openly to their opinion and suggestions, built better relationships and I have transformed from being a gatekeeper to an enabler.” – Finance Head in the Construction Industry
There’s more to learn about Authentic Leadership especially in today’s changing times.
Meanwhile, I leave you this quote which I think beautifully captures what it is: “Authentic leadership is the full expression of ‘me’ for the benefit of ‘we’.” – Henna Inam, Author, Wired for Disruption
BENCHMARK NEWS
Registration is still open for the following courses!
ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL COACHING CERTIFICATION COURSE
Take your coaching skills to the next level and discover the tools that make a difference to high performance. Upon completion of this course, you gain specialist expertise that helps you develop personally and professionally — helping you better create sustainable change in the lives of your clients. Ready to develop deeper coaching skills and carve out a name in the industry? Join us in this program that teaches coaches new and critical skills and mindsets that will enable you to create a life-changing impact on your clients and make every coaching engagement a transformative experience. The program will take place on March 15 to May 25, 2023.
Learn more about the program >>
TEAM COACHING SKILLS FOR LEADERS
Benchmark Consulting’s Team Coaching training courses provide team leaders with the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitudes they must have in coaching their teams. Our Team Coaching training program effectively equips team leaders with the skillsets that enable them to facilitate conversations where team members can freely open up, challenge each other’s ideas, offer solutions, and come up with shared actions to take – leading to shared accountability and better results. The program is slated on March 6, 8, and 10.
Learn more about the program >>
COACHING SKILLS FOR LEADERS
The current business environment is complex, volatile, and ambiguous. What constitutes good leadership is constantly evolving. To achieve success in such a dynamic climate, coaching training for leaders is no longer an option – it is a must. Benchmark Consulting’s Coaching for Success is the only Leadership Coaching Workshop approved in the Philippines by the International Coaching Federation, the global authority in professional coaching. Our certified leadership coach training meets the highest international standards in terms of course objectives, content, and methodology. Save the dates: March 23, 28 and 30!
Learn more about the program >>
Public Run: ACCELERATING YOUR TRANSITION TO A NEW WORK CULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT
Managing culture and workplace change presents a variety of challenges that must be addressed and overcome. Learn how to get to know the core of your organization, manage stakeholders, establish performance expectations and build your personal brand in this intensive 3-hour workshop to optimize your transition and success. This workshop will take place on March 29 at 2PM-5PM PH Time.
Sign up for any of these programs by writing us at info@benchmark-consulting.net.
