SETTING APPROPRIATE RESOLUTIONS | LBCC 1.11

This time of year, most of us are drawn to reflect on the past year and set resolutions for the new. by simple definition, a resolution is the act of pursuing a different direction, course, or change to bring about a different result (Leanbrella definition).

The WHY: sometimes a change is needed in order to achieve the goal for the future. other times it is a change in behavior to invoke a change for the better. the intent in both situations is to be better, either emotionally or physically, than the current situation.

The WIIFM: all of us have an innate desire to be better, feel better, be happier, more financially stable, or achieve something greater. If we are successful in setting appropriate resolutions…We will have the opportunity to actually achieve what we desire…Is there a better WIIFM than that?

my Advice: If we haven’t set appropriate resolutions and have set the goal or bar too high, we will not achieve what we desire and may fail, become complacent, or become frustrated in the pursuit of excellence. The term “Appropriate” is not used lightly here. We do not want to set the goal/Resolution so high that we are unable to achieve it or so low that we waste our opportunities. It is a delicate balance. my advice? Ask yourself “What problem am I trying to Solve?” constantly! This will help focus your mind on defining the situation appropriately, thus allowing you to focus on the plan on how to get there.

SETTING APPROPRIATE RESOLUTIONS is not a perfect science. it takes practice and some skill-Set in resilience.

• PERSONALLY: some years may be better than others. you will fail and so will I. that’s called “being human”. But with diligence, practice, and forgiveness toward yourself; resilience will increase and you will get better and better at defining the goal or problem. A better definition of the problem will help you and me set better resolutions for the following year. (example | 2021 resolution: “Lose 50lbs in 2021″…End of 2021: I didn’t achieve it | 2022 Resolution Change…”Exercise at least 3 times a week in 2022″…I begin the year with a plan, not the end result.)
• PROFESSIONALLY: Some years will be better than others also. The organization won’t always achieve the goals. It’s called Continuous Improvement/Operational Excellence. But with diligence, practice, and an embracing culture; operational resilience will increase and the team will get better and better at defining the goals, initiatives, and problems. The utilization of tools like Operational Excellence, Policy Deployment/Hoshin Kanri will support the team in their annual efforts to improve and achieve corporate strategy and goals. (example | 2021 Goal: “Be the industry leader in 2021″…End of 2021: The Corporation didn’t achieve it | 2022 Goal Change…”Improve Corporate Market Share by 15% every Quarter of 2022″…The year begins with an annual Goal. smaller specific (SMART) plans can be defined by the team for each quarter in order to achieve the annual goal. Policy Deployment Progress Reviews can indicate if the goal is being met or not throughout 2022.)

If you need help understanding the problems you are facing, don’t hesitate to reach out to Leanbrella for support! I have had the opportunity and privilege to identify complex issues in a variety of situations and support teams and individuals overcome those issues. If you embark on a Continuous Improvement journey and start to realize that there are more problems than you can handle, you’re not alone! Start small and keep going. Two steps forward and one step back is sTILL progress! For the bigger stuff you cannot handle, Leanbrella can help…