Problems Are Calls For Change and Opportunities to Re-Evaluate Not A Sign of A Failure!

                                                   
Problems  and/or falling short of goals are opportunities to pause and re-evaluate.  Usually, they mean a change is in order but DO NOT MEAN,   "Stop" permanently, moving toward YOUR goals, or stop working!

 
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One of the "points of consideration" I try to show my clients is when a challenge or problem comes up don't throw in the towel, but use it for good.  Take the time to adjust thinking, plans, schedules.

Re-evaluate the plan. 

1.)   Is this YOUR problem/challenge or is in indirectly related to you? 

2. )  Was this situation or challenge missed in the plan? 

               

3.)   Is it a new situation or unpredictable? 

 1.  If the problem is not directly related to the client or the goal we are working on, then we need to look at the problem separate from our current ACTION plan, as it was not part of it before now and therefore, cannot be used to measure the progress or success of the plan in meeting the goal.  Keeping the focus and scope of the plan and commitment to handling the tasks related toward reaching the goals is an essential task and needs to have full agreement before changing the plan.  Also, "feeling like it is not working" or "feeling dissatisfied with results" are not fair measurements and were not part of the plan either therefore, we need to stay true to the plan.

2.  Was this a situation or challenge we discussed when we developed the plan?  Did it get missed or when the priorities and goals set, this was not seen as being an issue.  What Changed?  (measurable)...  Decisions and commitment have to be held to in times of challenge and adversity.  Adjustments can be made, changes are possible but will effect results of previous tasks because you are changing the coarse and timing of the progress toward the goal so care needs to be taken to adjust everything, not just one part of the equation.

3.  Is this a new situation that was not even present before, was not considered when we formed the plan or something that is just not predictable or able to be controlled, (ie: illness, someone else wanting to participate or make a change, external changes that need to be part of the planning).  Again, cause for change but not indicative that the goal has changed or is not going to be achieved.  Might just need to adjust the perception and/or expectation.

I began looking at my personal plan, and tasks (steps taken toward reaching goals) with the "Status Report time approaching" (first quarter coming to a close) and several issues coming up that were stressing and discouraging me.  

I Applied these principles to my work and plan.   

• I evaluated the plan and the steps that were taken, and the results and found a few areas that needed improvement. However, I also saw somethings that were being allowed to reflect on the project and be included into the results that should not have been.  As I removed things that were not part of the original plan and evaluated several challenges that were folded into the action plan and handled because of the need at the moment.  I found this change in the action plan was the cause for the lack of progress and was very understandable. In addition, successfully handling these new and unplanned issues at the time needed to be recognized for the wise choice it was; to just instinctively deal with what came up at that time and account for the delay in the original goal later.   

• I made a list of the "new situations/challenges" and looked to see if they needed to be included into the plan, if they were distractions/challenges that should have been scheduled later or if the results just needed to be able to account for these kind of situations in the future.

• Moving forward I have made changes to the process and to the measuring tools so that all efforts and work is accountable and can be tracked for progress, recognized for improving or solving a problem and adjusting how estimates are done so that all workable time is accounted for and properly credited.  

By doing this re-evaluation I was given an opportunity to look at the tasks and planning process to identify if anything was causing the dissatisfaction.  I gained a new approach to better help my clients and found a way to make my business better and more profitable.  


Hopes, Dreams and Goals are all different.  Goals are what I deal with, they are specific, (SIMPLY STATED), REASONABLE (nothing happens over night, and contracts have terms for a reason, I plan and work in a methodical way, so Contractual terms have to spell out, deadline for the goal to be accomplished and Status updates will be scheduled within that period to check progress) Measurable.  

Unplanned or unexpected changes, delays or closed projects do not have to be negative experiences.  Every opportunity can be a positive experience when time is taken to evaluate the Why, How, when, where, and who and see what could be changed for the better.  A negative result is not a failure unless you stop permanently.  If you redirect and make changes, the stop will just be a break in the progress and once you meet the goal, all that is important is what was learned and accomplished. If, changing the goal is necessary, that is not a failure either, it is just part of the re-evaluation process on long term goals that helps get the accomplishments you really desire.