Rituals for a Successful 2016

Most of us start the new year with optimism and enthusiasm for a fresh start.

We envision our ideal self and create a list of goals or resolutions to finally achieve everything we desire. But most people lose traction quickly. According to a study by the University of Scranton, only 8 percent of people achieve their New Year resolutions. Motivating, huh? That statistic can make you want to forget about setting any goals and just quit before you start. But don't throw in the towel yet.

In this post, I'll share some tips based on research of what achievers do to successfully reach their goals. I'll also show you how you can get excellent results by setting small rituals throughout your day. 

So how do successful people do it? According to Dan Diamond, a contributor for Forbes magazine , there are a few things that people who achieve their goals do to ensure their success:

1) Keep it simple. If you have too many goals, you can become overwhelmed and abandon them. The longer the list, the more likely you are to quit. I used to make ambitious lists with things like, "learn Italian," "take piano lessons," and "run a 5k." I basically set myself up for failure right at the start because I couldn't create the time for all those things.

What I realized is that I was creating a wish list, not a goal list. Now I set goals, but they are not pie-in-the-sky wishes. They are achievable goals that I am committed to working on THIS year. One day I would love to learn Italian and take up piano again, but there's only so much I can fit into a year. Last year I actually did complete a 5k run because I was committed, focused and built the training into my schedule.

2) Make it specific and measurable. Saying, "I will lose weight" is too generic and vague for most people to stick to. Instead, pick something specific so you can measure progress. For example, "I will cut out all ice cream and chocolate for one month" or "I will complete a kickboxing class on Tuesdays and Thursdays."

3) Create accountability. Sharing your goals with others or creating an accountability system can motivate you to stay on track. Knowing that someone else is checking in pushes you to continue the effort. Last year I joined an accountability group for entrepreneurs where we share all our business goals and check in weekly for tracking and support. This groups keeps me focused and provides support throughout the year when I would otherwise get distracted or give up.

4) Believe you can do it. A study by Carole Dweck at Stanford University found that people can increase their willpower by changing their mindset. Many people think that willpower depletes easily, but the researchers found that people who believed that willpower is abundant persevere through tasks. This shift in mindset can be the difference between quitting when you hit a roadblock or pushing through to success.

I believe that setting annual goals can lead to better success, and research backs this up. People who make resolutions or set goals are 10 times more likely to achieve them than people who don't set goals. But goals have to be ambitious to be impactful. 

If setting formal goals seems overwhelming to you, you can make significant progress by creating small rituals throughout your day. For example, an improvement I have been consistently working on for the past few years is to be more mindful and purposeful throughout my day. I have a tendency to wake up with a list of things to do in my head and I want to hit the ground running.

This habit wasn't serving me because I didn't take time to reflect or be present in the moment. Being action-oriented is very effective in certain situations, but it is not productive or sustainable all the time. When I implemented rituals to pause and create space in my day, I noticed that I became more focused, engaged and happier.

In the past year, there are two specific things I have done that have had a significant impact on feeling calmer and more mindful in my life and in my business. First, I started waking up an hour earlier so I don't feel rushed in the morning. I use this time to be grateful, set my intentions for the day, and complete personal development activities. As soon as I get up, I drink a glass of lemon water, and then a cup of green tea. I created this ritual so I feel hydrated and start the day feeling in control of what I eat so I will (usually) make better food decisions throughout the day.

Second, I created a ritual of pausing before I start a new task, phone call or meeting. Instead of going from meeting to meeting, I would stop, take a breath, and make an intention for what I was about to begin. If I am about to facilitate a leadership program, I make an intention that I stay in tune to the needs of the participants, listen well, and that I facilitate the session in a way that will be impactful to each individual. If I am about to read a book to my kids at bedtime, I take a second to pause and remind myself to stay present in the moment and really be with them mentally and enjoy the time.

I have made significant progress with my goal of being mindful and less hectic and stressed throughout the day. I continue to build in small rituals as others become habits.

You can improve your leadership by creating rituals throughout your day. Below are some examples of ways to make significant progress by doing something small:

• If you want to increase employee engagement, every time you get up to go to the restroom, stop to say hello to your employees or check in to see how they are doing. Or set aside 10 minutes every Monday to write a thank-you note to an employee.
• If you want to increase your productivity, prioritize your to-do list for the next day the night before.
• If you want to feel more in control of your day, block off the first 30 minutes in the office so you can center yourself and prepare for the day.
• If you want to become more mindful, take a deep breath and let the phone ring three times before you answer it.
• If you want to be a better listener, pause before you speak or provide input.
• If you want to develop yourself as a leader, read 10 pages of a leadership book each day or read for a half hour before bed.

Whatever your goals are this year, find a ritual you can create that will ensure you are making consistent progress. Breaking your goals or resolutions down into actionable rituals can help you to develop better habits. It's about the compound effect; small actions repeated over time lead to big results.

I'd love to hear from you. What are some small actions or rituals that you have in place to achieve goals? Or, what is one ritual you will implement in your day? Share them in the comments section.

Wishing you a fantastic year!

Laurie Maddalena, MBA, CPCC, PHR, is a certified executive coach, leadership consultant and founder of Envision Excellence, LLC  in the Washington, D.C., area. Her mission is to create exceptional cultures by teaching leaders how to be exceptional. Maddalena facilitates management and executive training programs and team-building sessions and speaks at leadership events. Prior to starting her business, she was an HR executive at a $450 million credit union. Contact her at 240.605.7940 or lmaddalena@envisionexcellence.net.