Tips for Keeping Your New Year’s Resolutions By Heidi Stinson, Stinson Services, Inc.
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nce again, at this time of year we pause to reflect upon our all-encompassing roles in our work life. We review our achievements as well as envision where we can make adjustments to further our business resolutions. What strategies do you employ to maintain your focus on what you need to do to keep effective in managing your property? In regards to setting new resolutions for the new year, here are a few ideas to stimulate your approaches: 1. Set Resolutions that Motivate You It is so vital that the goals you identify are vital to your company’s success and inspire you to achieve them. • Be more inspiring. As association staff, there are many opportunities to inspire board members, volunteers and homeowners. Be passionate about your organization’s mission and allow yourself to take risks to set your objectives in motion. • Improve your social media brand. Establish yourself as a thought leader or credible resource in a particular industry.
• Attainable: During the brainstorming stage, ask yourself and others involved: “Is this a realistic goal that we have the power and control to make happen?” • Relevant: Is this goal going to make a difference once achieved? • Time bound: Make certain the goal is realistic and relevant to the time frame identified based on what is occurring within your organization at that time. 3. Set Goals in Writing • Create a timeline and milestones along the way. This should be written down and clearly visible to all interested parties. • Create a vision board or post up little notes as constant reminders of your goal. Put these reminders in places you pass often. 4. Make an Action Plan
• Work on your weaknesses. In association management, wearing many hats is a prerequisite. Which one is your weakest point? Explore all the areas where you feel you are strong and identify those areas which you could use a little improvement.
• Identify the exact steps you will take in achieving your goal. Make certain the steps are specific and not vague. Clearly identify which tasks to delegate to others.
• Kick start a new initiative. Whether it’s a new program or committee you are passionate about, you can commit to developing something new and exciting for your organization.
• Celebrate successes. Everyone feels better when acknowledged for their efforts. Print out a simple award or certificate for accomplishments.
2. Set SMART Goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time Bound) • Begin by brainstorming to identify potential goals, then clearly identify the specific goal. • Specific: Clearly identify the goal; brainstorming should come before this step to wash out all ideas that will support or complicate the goal.
• Set dates for action items.
• Focus on the light at the end of the tunnel. How great is it going to feel once your goal has gained momentum and you can see the end result is near? 5. Stick with it! • There is no one more deserving than you and your organization. Shine like the star you are and make it happen in 2017.
• Measurable: Set milestones for your goal – perhaps by season or by month. When you establish your goal, set in place a reward that celebrates achievement of your objective.
January | February 2017
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