Is it still January?

Last time I checked, it was January. Still. It feels like the longest month of the year. You may have seen the poem “Mnemonic” by Brian Bilston, a UK poet, circulating on social media. I think it captures the essence of January perfectly.

Mnemonic
Thirty days has September
April, June and November.
Unless a leap year is its fate,
February has twenty-eight.
All the rest have three days more,
excepting January,
which has six thousand,
one hundred and eighty-four.
~Brian Bilston

Is January the time for fresh starts and renewal or is it a time for adding more to an already long to do list? Did all the angst and lists of 2023 disappear just because we started 2024, or are we doomed to add to our endless lists feeling more despondent with each new day?

Be gentle with yourself, my friend.

View your goals for 2024 through a different lens. One that is built for immediate success rather than the rearview mirror of regret that might face you at the end of the year.

Start by redefining your goals. Goals should be viewed as broad and overarching objectives that you or your credit union aim to achieve. Goals typically represent a larger outcome or result such as a core conversion or achieving loan growth at a certain percentage.

Rather than putting on the lens of these major goals and not knowing where to start, what if we put each goal under a microscope and created a series of micro goals that could ensure our success? A micro goal is a smaller, more specific task or milestone that will help us achieve the larger goal.

In essence, micro goals are subcomponents or steps that help break down a larger goal into manageable and achievable pieces. They provide a way to measure progress and ensure that the overall goal is approached in a systematic and organized manner. Micro goals are often used as building blocks to reach the ultimate objective.

Here are four ways to set successful, achievable micro goals:

1. Break down larger goals: Identify your larger, overarching goals and break them down into smaller, more manageable components. This allows you to focus on specific aspects and make steady progress. If one of our credit union goals is to increase loan volume, we might instinctively know that we need to get our branch network to deepen relationships with members. But where do we start? The first micro goal could be setting up a schedule to meet with each branch manager to outline best practices already in place. Just set up the schedule and call it a win! This seems so small that I should be able to accomplish it by the end of the day. That’s the point! micro goals should be so small as to only take a short time to complete them.
   Intuitively we set goals in chunks because we know all the subtasks needed. It can feel like a waste of time to do all this planning work up front. Look through a different lens and consider how you might bring others into the goal getting process. It’s far easier to delegate a micro goal than a critical, hefty maxi goal. The bonus is that you can bring along staff members who are itching to help and give them a bit of experience in the process.
2. Prioritize tasks: Determine the priority of each micro goal. Some tasks may be more critical or time sensitive than others. By prioritizing, you can allocate your resources and efforts efficiently. It may be surprising to discover tasks that can be assigned a lower priority when they aren’t lumped into larger goals. While micro goals help you more easily break out tasks for delegation, prioritizing tasks can help you assign goal-focused tasks to part-time staff or other resources that aren’t available to you on a full-time basis. You’ll thank yourself the next time someone says they’ve got an extra 30 minutes on their hands to help you.
3. Set realistic timelines: Establish realistic timelines for achieving each micro goal. Consider your overall schedule and workload to avoid setting yourself up for failure. Realistic timelines provide motivation and a sense of accomplishment. Stop me if you’ve ever outlined your list of to dos for the day only to have your phone, email, and life in general blow it out of the water before 9:00 a.m. It happens to all of us. If our Monday goals flow into Tuesday, which cascade into Wednesday, pour into Thursday and surge into Friday, it’s no wonder we feel mentally and physically exhausted by the end of the week.
   Micro goals are truly meant to be accomplished more quickly if they’re set correctly. Even if it means blocking 15 minutes each day to tackle one micro goal, you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment when you can check an item off your to do list even on the busiest days.
4. Celebrate small wins: Acknowledge and celebrate your achievements, no matter how small. By recognizing and rewarding yourself for completing micro goals, you can boost your motivation and create positive momentum toward larger objectives.Too often we wait for those big boulder goals to be completely moved before we celebrate. Ribbon cutting and party for a new branch opening? Sure! Pizza for a successful IRA season? Of course! But what about those small, daily accomplishments? Even if it’s pausing to cross an item off your to do list, take a moment to celebrate your forward momentum.
   If completing a micro goal feels good to you, imagine how good it will feel to someone who has been given a new opportunity to help you. Picking up a favorite beverage, a shout out in a team meeting, or a short, hand-written note of thanks for someone who completed a micro goal can make a difference in building a culture of appreciation. Celebrate often!

Remember, the key is to create a systematic approach where each micro goal contributes to overall success. While it’s still January, set aside a couple of hours – or even a day – to divide your annual goals into micro goals.

Yes, January is long and cold. And January is a special time for setting goals and pursuing our dreams. We can start January with a sense of purpose and determination. Seize the potential that January holds and take proactive steps towards achieving your dreams. Set your first micro goal right now. And reach out to me at angela@cudifference.com if you’d need help in appreciating what January has to offer.

“January is the quietest month in the garden. But just because it looks quiet doesn’t mean that nothing is happening.” – Rosalie Muller Wright