Coaching Column: Conduct a post-mortem on the past year

Sam Mednick is a professional life and executive coach based in Barcelona (www.blueprintcoaching.ca). A Canadian native, she’s been living in the city for eight years working with companies as well as individuals focusing on transitions, communication, leadership training, time management and productivity, as well as emotional intelligence development. For more coaching tips, tune into her Podcast.

SAM SAYS: CONDUCT A POST-MORTEM ON THE PAST YEAR

Dear Sam,

Before every New Year I write in my journal. I reflect on what went well that year and jot down what I’d like to accomplish for the year to come. As I went to write my entry for 2017, I re-read last year’s notes and realised that I hadn’t accomplished what I’d set out to do. I know it’s not always possible to tick every goal off the list, but I found myself writing the same things over again for 2017 that I’d written for 2016. It kind of freaked me out because it made me feel like I hadn’t made any headway over the last 12 months. I actually felt like I’d gone in reverse. I know you can’t change the past, but if I’m writing a similar entry for 2018 I’m going to be seriously depressed. If you have any advice on how to make this year different than the last, one where I actually accomplish my goals, I’d really appreciate it.

Groundhog Year

Dear Groundhog Year,

Well firstly, happy New Year! However you might feel about last year’s achievements—or lack thereof—the beauty of December 31st rolling into January 1st is that, in a way, it allows us to wipe the slate clean every 365 days.

On that note, you’re right in that I can’t turn back the clock, however I can offer up a few suggestions so that you make some headway in the coming year.

Here are some ideas to consider:

1. Conduct a post-mortem on your previous year. The first thing that came to mind when reading your question was: ‘I wonder what it was that prevented her from accomplishing what she’d set out to do in 2016?’ I’m a strong believer that when we really want to do something, we generally do it, and so I challenge you to ask yourself a few questions about last year’s list: Were your goals things that you genuinely wanted to do or things that you felt you ‘needed’ to do or ‘should’ be doing?

And, what criteria is used for what makes it onto the list in the first place? For example, are general ideas put onto the list, things you’ve floated around in your head, or do they need to be more hashed out? Are the things on the list doable in the span of a year or do they need to be broken down into more ‘digestible chunks’? When goals are too large they can scare us instead of entice us to complete them.

2. Recognise what you did accomplish. Take out a blank sheet of paper and create a new list entitled ‘What did I gain from 2016?’ Just because you didn’t complete the things you originally set out to do doesn’t mean that you walked away empty handed. You might have accomplished several other feats, or come to other realisations that were valuable in their own right. In other words, your priorities, interests, passions and overall goals might not be the same or they may have taken on a different meaning over the past 12 months.

3. Determine which life patterns no longer serve you. Sometimes the ‘systems’ that we have in place need to be revamped. Take a look at how you work, where you work, how you prioritise and when you’re most productive. There might be items on last year’s list that you genuinely wanted to do but you didn’t get around to because you didn’t have the proper systems in place to maximise productivity and efficiency. Take a step back and look at your weekly schedule, where you’re spending your time and how you’re spending it, and ask yourself what’s one small thing that can be adjusted to allow for more time and energy to focus on the things that matter most to you? It doesn’t need to be a massive transformation as small shifts can have a big impact.

There’s a book by renowned coach and speaker Marshall Goldsmith called What got you here won’t get you there (http://jamesclear.com/book-summaries/what-got-you-here-wont-get-you-there). It’s a great resource about how even the most successful people sometimes need to change their ways in order to continue achieving the best results.

To share your thoughts on this column or ask Sam a question, email sam@blueprintcoaching.ca, or write to Metropolitan at editorial@barcelona-metropolitan.com.