At the beginning of the year, it’s easy to feel energized and full of optimism about our strategic plans. We feel like we can accomplish everything we want, reach our potential, and succeed beyond our wildest dreams. As the months begin to go by, motivation can wane. Day to day demands eat up our time, and our strategic plan gets less and less of our attention. Now that we’re more than halfway through 2018, it’s time to ask yourself – are you on track to meet goals and intentions you initially set for the year?

If you’ve either forgotten you even set yearly targets in January, or simply aren’t as close as you’d like to be, this is a great time to check in with yourself. Here are a few questions to uncover what might be holding you back, and what you can do about it.

• Have you been intentionally avoiding a certain task or project? That could be an indicator that you have resistance to whatever it is.Ask yourself, what’s going on there?
  • Rather than whistling and looking the other way, try instead to look head on at what you’ve been avoiding. If it’s your marketing plan that’s fallen by the wayside, are you afraid of putting yourself out there and failing? Examining limiting beliefs can be hugely valuable in getting unblocked and getting back on course.
  • If instead you’ve been avoiding asking for referrals or introductions, let me tell you – it’s a common place to feel blocked. Mindset again can come into play here, as it can feel uncomfortable or even vulnerable to have that conversation. Getting comfortable with a “script” of sorts that you feel authentic delivering will make the process easier. (Try practicing on a friend, colleague, or even Fido!)
• Have you been unable to put your strategic plan into action? This could be an indicator you need more support in a certain area. Ask yourself, what do I need in order to take action?
  • Rather than giving up on your plans entirely, try instead to take an honest look at areas you could use additional skills or support. Is it time to sharpen your skills in certain areas (such as sales conversations), or enlist outside guidance to help you implement your overall strategic plan?
  • Engaging with an expert business coach like me can be helpful in numerous ways. I can support you in putting your grand plans into action, provide accountability, and help you build your skills in areas you’d like to improve.
• Do you feel overwhelmed and like you simply don’t have time to put your strategic plan into action? Ask yourself, is it time to delegate some of my lower level tasks?
  • • Optimal delegating can be a game changer. Could it be time to pass off some of your lower level tasks to a team member or consultant so that your time is freed up to focus on higher level work? Feeling like you don’t have enough time to implement your strategic plan could be a sign that your bandwidth is being encroached upon by things that could be delegated. Read about how to delegate effectively here.
    • If you’re not ready to delegate, you can try to look at your strategic plan and ask yourself, what’s one step I could take that could make an impact?It’s likely not necessary to implement your entire strategic plan to see results, and being highly strategic about whatever small action youdo have the bandwidth for could make a real impact, provided you make the right move.
• Does your strategic plan no longer resonate with you? Ask yourself, could it be time to re-calibrate my plans around what’s exciting and appealing at this stage?
  • It’s entirely possible that the strategic plan you made at the end of last year or earlier this year no longer resonates with you. Are you struggling to take action because your goals no longer excite you? If so, it’s time to take some time and re-calibrate around what would make you excited to take action.
  • If you’re not feeling excited about your goals and strategic plans, it’s likely you’re not entirely engaged in your work. This means you’re not pushing as hard, or possibly letting the quality of your work lag a bit. Maybe you’re not following up on leads as quickly as you need to, showing up to networking events you RSVP’d to, or reaching out to connect with new potential professional referral sources. If so, the question to ask yourself is, what action step would make you feel re-energized?Do you need a short vacation to recharge your batteries? Or maybe a motivating meeting with a coach like me to get you back into the zone?

If you’d like help revisiting and refreshing your strategic plan and want to make sure you make the most of this year, I would love to speak with you. Email me today: susan@susandanzig.com