How Will You Lead In 2017?

As 2016 comes to a close, leaders have a great opportunity to map out their direction for the coming year. Some of us may want to continue along the same path and simply delve more deeply. Other leaders may decide to reorient themselves all together and reconfigure their strategies. While some of us may fall in between, integrating some of our last year plans with some different or new approaches. A great way to identify the best strategy for 2017 is to actually coach ourselves through the process. It might sound a bit crazy, but we can direct our next year’s planning through the GROW model.

The model was originally developed in the 1980s by business coaches Graham Alexander, Alan Fine, and Sir John Whitmore. The model is an acronym:

GROW

  • G oal
  • Current R eality
  • O ptions
  • W ill (or Way Forward)
  • CREATE YOUR GOALS- What do you want?


    Decide if there is anything you might want to change for next year in your business or job. Is there an area or department you want to learn more about? Have you been noticing new trends in your industry? The goals need to be specific with time frames. It is also essential that your goals can be measured so that you will know when you have achieved them. Don’t forget to write the goals out so that you can refer back to them.

    TAKE A DOWN AND DIRTY LOOK AT YOUR REALITY - Where are you now?


    This is the step where you recognize the truth about your current leadership strategy. It is highly unlikely that we can either continue down the same road or make a turn to a different road if we aren’t honest about what happened this past year. Ask yourself what went well this past year and what you enjoyed the most about your job. Ask:

  • How do I feel about the direction I have been moving in?
  • Was I successful in attaining my 2016 goals ? If not, why not?
  • What has been my biggest hurdle and am I already working on overcoming it?
  • Will my 2017 goals help me get closer to my north star?
  • To create successful 2017 goals, leaders need to be honest about their challenges this past year.

    DISCOVER YOUR OPTIONS-What could you do?


    After figuring out what went well and what was a bust, it is time to be open to some new options. Focus in on where you want to go and how you will get there. Do you need to learn some new skills to move into a new position? Do you need to talk to someone to gain more insights about a trend or concept? Maybe you want to attend a conference or sign up for a course. Reflect on the best way to achieve your goals and identify what you may want to take off your plate or delegate in order to be successful. Ask yourself what is preventing you from tackling the goals.

    WILL YOURSELF FORWARD- What will you do?


    This last step is where you empower yourself to take the necessary actions to make 2017 the best year ever.

  • Write out the steps you need to take to reach your goals as well as timeframes
  • Set-up meetings with people who can provide you with guidance
  • Sign-up for interesting conferences to grow your mind and skills
  • Dump negative chatter that may derail you from achieving your goals
  • Be confident and own your destination
  • To achieve our 2017 goals leaders must not let negative self-talk derail them. What has helped you face your goals straight on? How do you keep on track?