We are past the half-way point. Mid year. Well into the third quarter. How are you doing? Often times we begin the year with fresh perspectives and aggressive goals and dreams for the upcoming twelve months. Now, at the year’s halfway point, you may find that your focus on goals has slipped. You’ve neglected or even forgotten some of your goals, perhaps many. Or events may have shifted in ways that require new or different goals. When this happens, instead of updating your goals, you may have simply dropped the idea of goal setting altogether.

Let’s utilize simple daily practices that will ensure your goals are kept alive throughout the year, and make it more likely you’ll achieve them. Let’s use this month to renew strategies and sharpen focus on goals for the remainder of the year.

As good leaders, it is our responsibility to keep our own goals in check and set an example for our team and colleagues. One good practice is re-visiting these goals daily. This process needn’t be long; it can be as simple a check-in where you ask yourself:

  • Is this goal still valid?
  • What has changed?
  • How do I need to change?

This daily practice ensures you never lose sight of your goals as the months roll by. The daily reminder of your strategies and practices makes the formal midyear evaluation much easier because you’re clear about where you are and where you are going.

For a lucky few, the simplicity of this daily practice — evaluating and modifying goals — will come naturally. For most of us, it does not. We need a trigger or reminder system to ensure the daily practice becomes a habit. You can do this first thing in the morning before you start your day, or in the afternoon before you leave the office so you are clear about your plans for the following day.

A quick daily check-in also accommodates for an ever-changing load of responsibilities and priorities. Your initial goal and/or plan of action set on January 1st may need to be adapted as the year progresses. Staying on top of these goals ensures they are top of mind and more likely to be achieved!