How did I do against the developmental goals I focused on last week?
1. Goal: strengthen reputation as outperformer. MIT: push hard hard hard in the goal/objective setting offsite Monday to ensure the management team in general, and I specifically, do NOT sign up for ANY objectives that are not seriously specific and measurable.
Sort-of accomplished. The way the goal-setting session was run, it was hard to push for measurable objectives, because we rarely got down to the objective level. However, I was an active participant and was vocal about making our goals specific and not boil-the-ocean big. I was also able to ensure all my goals were represented and that I didn’t sign up for anything vague or that I didn’t expect. And I made it abundantly clear — I was funny, funny, funny about it but very serious — to my boss (shout-out for managing up!) & a couple of peers that I am not signing up for any work that isn’t prioritized, meaning: doesn’t align to my goals
2. Goal: strengthen my reputation as an outperformer. MIT: once the offsite locks down the management team goals/objectives, lock my g/o into a final draft by Friday.
Accomplished. I noodled all week and took the the goals I owned coming out of the goal-setting session down to the objective level. All my objectives are measurable, even the more strategic ones. (Don’t get me started on strategic objectives). I’m working now on crafting a reference document that actually lays out the measures I’ll use. This will help me track performance and gather data along the way, and I’ll also review this document each Friday during my weekly review at work, to keep me focused. I’ve also got my G/O document out for review & feedback with to of my favorite (read: smartest & most trusted) peers.
3. Goal: be courted for new roles & new jobs. MIT: work on re-opening my network, by scheduling two coffees, lunches or statuses, one with a hiring manager who has a prospect for me, one with a former manager, director or VP, to reconnect, hear what’s up in their world, drop my elevator speech, and remind them (sweetly, graciously) how great I am.
Not accomplished! I did set up coffee with that hiring manager, for after the holiday break. But I totally shied away from reaching out to any of my former leadership at that Director or VP level. Why am I so shy about this? Well, reaching out and taking positive risks is the big weakness in my resilience profile. What am I so skeezed out about? I have been thinking about it all week: more to come in a post about it some time this week.
Goals & MITs for next week:
1. Goal: strenghten my reputation as an outperformer. MIT: finish crafting the measures for my objectives. Review and revise my goals overall.
2. Goal: Be courted for new roles and jobs. MIT: figure out why I’m so gun-shy about networking with leaders way above my pay grade.
Only two goals this week, and probably fewer posts too: Merry Christmas!
