Before You Make A Change, Do This
Having the foresight to see needed change is a great skill to posses. But just because it isn’t working doesn’t mean you should change the course. Before you make a change, do these things. #DailyMight
Making changes to get new outcomes is great, but the reason for change can’t be determined until the needed change has been exhausted at full capacity and good effort. January is a great month for making changes — Just make sure you tried giving it your best before you try doing it differently. Then, if needed and with gained knowledge, do it differently. #DailyMight
The first month of every new year is my favorite. It’s an opportunity for fresh starts, needed changes, and clear directions in an attempt to kick start both. There is a catch though, to making changes in the first month (or anytime for that matter in goal setting). First, you’ll want to review how you got here and make some notes. You’ll want to assess four areas to ensure that you’ve given a fair shot for a goal’s success. Before you make a change to the change, you’ll need to decide if the way you’re doing it now is the best you had to offer while doing it. Before you make a change, do these things.
Give more effort.
If you are not 100% committed to achieving the goal, the likeliness of it’s failure exponentially increases. Change in it’s purest form is inherently scary. So we cope with fear of failure (and success) by not setting ourselves up for either. We simply stay in our comfort zone with the minimum required effort. It’s the easy way, and it’s sabotaging the goal’s success rate. We aren’t committed to the actions needed to achieve the goal. Before you decide the goal isn’t worth it, or is the wrong goal, have you given it your full effort?
Get some help.
Help is not a curse word. It’s ok to need it, and to seek it out – in fact, I suggest it. Have you heard of the Buddy System the military deploys to introduce and welcome in new recruits? It’s a built in support system, accountability partner, and welcoming committee. It’s brilliant. Change can be overwhelming, sometimes you’ll need some help. Take the help. If some is good, more is better – Never is that more true than with help. Before you decide the goal isn’t worth it, or is the wrong goal, have you gotten enough help?
Gain new knowledge.
The Bible in Proverbs, verse 19:2 advises that desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses the way. Was there something you missed when you put the goal into action? Is there new information or knowledge you have or could get that alters the plan and refocuses the objective? Sometimes understanding the full scope of the change or goal is missing needed info. Keep learning, and when you know better, do better. Before you decide the goal isn’t worth it, or is the wrong goal, do you have all the knowledge you need?
Change the plan.
Changing the plan doesn’t mean the old plan failed or the goal isn’t working as intended. It just means that it could be better, or working better. Don’t be afraid to change the plan, but it should be a last ditch effort – if the goal was worthwhile. Changing the plan is the action taken after you’ve given the effort, accepted the help, and gained the knowledge. You can always change the plan, but rarely should you be changing the goal. Before you decide the goal isn’t worth it, or is the wrong goal, are you positive that the plan can work?
Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his heed misses the way.
Proverbs 19:2
Going back to the drawing board isn’t the end of the world. I’ve had many instances in the middle of a season where I had to right the ship (or take a hard right) and still end the season on a high note. Having the foresight to see needed change is a great skill to posses. But just because it isn’t working doesn’t mean you should change the course. Not before you’ve properly assessed the reason for not succeeding.
I’ve also been on teams that just weren’t performing as well as they could and that affected the judgement for change. There was one year where we had lots of talent, and commitment, but needed a little extra knowledge about personalities and skill sets. After we figured that part out, we made an exciting run to the state championship. So I encourage you to not make a change just to make change. But know the reason why a change is needed for a better outcome. And then, go make it happen.
Give everything your everything. And then some.
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