4 hacks to help you set goals during uncertain times
Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash
Last week we talked through how to create a doable quarterly plan, even in uncertain times.
This week, my friend Emily Lundberg, over at Prialto, is going to talk us through how to think about goals, and how to goal-plan when even a quarterly plan seems too far flung. Take it away, Emily!
Goal setting in today’s environment can be extremely daunting. It’s difficult to anticipate what next week is going to look like, which makes trying to plan ahead seem nearly impossible.
However, despite the uncertainty, it’s possible to not only set and achieve meaningful goals over the short-term but also make significant progress on long-term endeavors. The trick is to shift your goal planning approach away from fixed roadmaps to a more flexible pursuit of your top priorities.
Here’s how.
1. Focus on What You Can Control
The first step in setting goals in uncertain times is figuring out what areas of your personal and professional interests you have the most control over. These are the best areas to set goals since you are the least likely to encounter significant barriers.
Once you’ve identified these areas, you can brainstorm specific goals based on long-standing and new interests. If you find yourself with a long list of potential goals, narrow it down to two to three broad goals by considering practical factors such as:
Time requirements
Financial requirements
Dependencies on others
As you’re narrowing down your options, you might also consider which ones will bring you the most happiness. These are stressful times; if a goal isn’t personally meaningful or enjoyable to pursue, it’ll be that much more difficult to consistently find the motivation to work towards it.
2. Create (Really) Short-Term Goals
Once you know your broad objectives, break them into short-term goals. This will help you stay focused and continue making tangible progress amidst the uncertainty.
How far in advance you set goals may depend on how much the current environment affects your job and personal life. If you work in an industry that’s heavily constrained by shutdowns and social distancing requirements, you may only create goals that are two weeks to a month in advance since regulations are constantly changing. This also may apply to your personal life if you have young kids and don’t know when you’ll be able to access childcare or in-person school again.
However, if your industry and personal responsibilities are minimally impacted by policy changes, creating quarterly goals (like Alexis walked you through last week) can be a great way to give yourself milestones to look forward to during these difficult times.
If you’ve created a goal that’s longer than a few weeks, then revisit your goals every couple of weeks to adjust their scope and set new deadlines as your environment evolves.
3. Anticipate Disruption
Unexpected disruptions will be inevitable for the foreseeable future, which means you’ll occasionally miss deadlines and/or have to suddenly pivot. To minimize the impact this has on your success, approach your goals with this reality in mind.
There are a few ways you can do this:
Rank your goals in order of priority. When a disruption occurs, and you can’t complete everything on your to-do list, prioritizing goals helps you maximize the progress you can make in a limited amount of time.
Set flexible, results-based goals. In uncertain times, reaching your objective is more important than how you achieve it. Focusing solely on results gives you the flexibility to pivot your methods as your environment evolves.
Set fewer goals than you think you have time for. Leaving some free time in your schedule lessens the likelihood that you’ll fall behind during hectic weeks and gives you time to get ahead during calm ones.
Setting goals with potential disruptions in mind will help you make consistent progress despite the uncertainty.
4. Learn New Skills to Push Long-Term Priorities Forward
Planning for long-term goals can seem impossible because you don’t know what the world will be like a month from now, let alone in a year or longer. However, you shouldn’t let the uncertainty put your goals on hold.
Chances are, any long-term goal you’re interested in will require new skills and knowledge. While you’re figuring out the right time to fully move forward, you might consider starting the learning process.
Here are a few examples:
Want to start your own business? There’s a lot more to running a business than just creating a great product or service. Take a couple of online entrepreneurship courses so that you have the basic knowledge you’ll need to get started. If you already have an idea in mind, you can begin creating materials while waiting for the right time to launch.
Interested in breaking into a new market or pivoting to a new industry? Read as much as you can about your target industry. Learn their vernacular, goals, pain points, etc. so that when an opportunity arises, you already know how to be successful.
Want to run a marathon? Do your research and figure out all of the fitness and nutrition activities you need to be successful. Depending on your current habits, preparing your body may take a while. You can start now while you wait for events to resume.
One of the best things about starting this learning journey before you’ve set deadlines is that it allows you to explore freely. Without time constraints, you can pursue information based on your curiosity instead of what’s going to help you achieve results the fastest.
You may discover a new direction to pursue or that you’re no longer interested in a goal at all. It’s great to figure that out now before you make significant time or financial commitments.