In Part 1, we took important steps to finding our focus for the year ahead. Crucial to this process was defining the outcomes we want to achieve. In this part, we turn our attention to making those outcomes a reality.

How often do you set goals and fail to achieve them? While goals can be a great way to focus your efforts and create a roadmap for personal and professional growth, they can also be too rigid and hard to follow. This becomes discouraging and we lose sight of the bigger picture, thereby decreasing our chances of success.

From my experience, focusing on outcomes is a more effective approach. And before stepping out to achieve them, it’s important to be clear on how they differ from goals.

Goals and outcomes—what’s the difference?

Goals are specific targets that you aim to achieve. Outcomes are the results or impacts of your efforts.

'Lose 20 pounds in 3 months' is a specific goal within a defined timeframe, whereas an outcome of losing 20 pounds might be improved health and increased energy. Focusing on this outcome rather than the goal helps you sustain progress and feel the ongoing benefits of not only lost weight but also improved health, increased energy, greater vitality and better mobility.

This is where the benefits of focusing on outcomes really come into play.

Two benefits of focusing on outcomes

1) Strategic flexibility

By focusing on desired outcomes, you can be more flexible in achieving your targets. Rather than being tied to specific actions or behaviours, you can adjust your strategy as needed—which is particularly useful when faced with unexpected challenges or setbacks.

So in our weight-loss example, focusing on the benefits of feeling healthier and more energised keeps our motivation high even if weight fluctuates—and we adjust our strategy accordingly. Contrast this with the discouragement we may feel if we don't meet specific weight goals on a weekly basis.

2) Broader impact

Focusing on outcomes also enables you to think more broadly about the impact of your efforts. Rather than simply achieving a specific goal, you can consider the broader effect of your actions and how they contribute to your overall well-being and happiness.

Let's take a work example. Say you set a professional goal to achieve a promotion by a certain date. Your goal may be on moving up the organisation and earning more money. Nothing wrong with that. But how will this affect your wellbeing if the promotion proves to be a stressful role that's less aligned with your strengths? What if you focused on the desired outcomes of improved financial security and job satisfaction instead? As you consider the steps to achieving these, it may open up better-suited opportunities you wouldn't otherwise explore.

Turning your desired outcomes into reality

By focusing on the outcomes you definined in Part 1, you’re now in a position to set some shorter-term goals to achieve them. However, as mentioned above, goal-setting can become rigid and discouraging. So to keep your outcomes front of mind, in the PRIZE Winning Leadership model we redefine each outcome as a PRIZE.

Each PRIZE is a Personally Rewarding Inspiration Zone Experience (PRIZE)—that is, it is personally rewarding and inspires you out of your comfort zone.

To achieve each PRIZE, we use a framework called a Next Exciting Win (NEW). Each NEW takes you closer to achieving your PRIZE and is defined in four steps, as described below.

Do something NEW to win your PRIZE

Step 1 is to Define it CLEARLY (Why it is both Exciting & Rewarding)

What excites you about your next ‘win’ towards your PRIZE? How does it appeal to your emotions?
What is rewarding about it? In terms of logic and measurables, what will it look like and how will you recognise it?

Step 2 is to Plan it CAREFULLY (Be a thermostat, not a thermometer)

Create a plan for how you will achieve each NEW—what will you do?
This is where you break your PRIZEs down into smaller, more manageable steps (if you need to), and schedule them into your calendar.

Step 3 is to Show it CONSPICUOUSLY (KNOW / SHOW that you’re winning)

Recognise and celebrate your achievements and successes with a small group of supportive friends or family. Or, take time to reflect on and celebrate your victories privately.
Your primary focus needs to be on recognising your personal growth and progress towards each PRIZE.

Step 4 is to Revisit it CONTINUALLY (Accountability)

It is important to continually revisit your NEWs to stay on track and ensure that you are progressing towards achieving your PRIZE.
This process of reviewing and assessing your progress is known as accountability. Here are a few tips for staying accountable:

Create a system for tracking your progress: Use a planner, spreadsheet, or another tool to track your progress and measure your success.
Set regular checkpoints: Schedule regular checkpoints throughout the year to assess your progress and make necessary adjustments to your plan.
Get support: Share your goals with a supportive friend, family member, or accountability partner and ask them to help you stay on track.
Be flexible: Be willing to make adjustments to your plan as needed. It's okay if things don't go exactly as you had hoped - the important thing is to keep moving forward.
By revisiting your NEWs continually and staying accountable to them, you can ensure that you are making progress towards each PRIZE and working towards the things that matter most to you.

Summing up

In Part 1, you followed a reflective process to help you learn from your experiences and find your focus in life and work. This involved defining desired outcomes which, as we have seen in part 2, can keep you adaptable and intentional in their achievement. To support this process, the PRIZE Winning Leadership model redefines each outcome as your PRIZE—a Personally Rewarding Inspiration Zone Experience. With this in your focus, you can reach it through a series of ‘Next Exciting Wins’.

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Next Steps

Define your ‘Next Exciting Wins’ to help you achieve those outcomes – see post
Book a call to explore how executive coaching can support your success

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Attributions

Photo: Emma E

Copy & Content Support: Will Salmon

Finding Your Focus in Life and Work – Part 2