Resolve – The Critical Component of Resolutions

It’s that time of year when we toast the possibilities and potential of a new year. A time for renewed determination for improvement.  A time to say to yourself, I want to make this a better year and I resolve to __________.

Wait!

Before you fill in the blank and make a potentially false promise to yourself, make sure the Champagne has worn off and ask yourself:

What really happened with last year’s resolutions?

Did I achieve what I set out to do? Do I even remember what I resolved to do?

Did we achieve last year’s business goals? If not, why not?

Research shows that 45% of Americans usually set New Year’s resolutions but only 8% are actually accomplished. *

Insanity?

If you’re like most people, your resolve lasted less than three weeks. It frequently fades as we get sucked back into the same routines and habits of previous years. This is a struggle for the ages as Benjamin Franklin defined it in the 1700s.

“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” – Benjamin Franklin

After a few years of unsuccessful attempts, many abandon establishing resolutions admitting: They just don’t work for me.  Or they’ve become an annual joke that allows us to laugh off our lack of resolve and rationalize our state of insanity.

Why do so many achieve so few of their New Year’s Resolutions?

• New Year’s Resolutions are seldom, if ever, committed to writing.
• Rarely, if ever, is time invested to planning our achievements. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
• Resolution success requires changes in our habitual behaviors. Behavioral scientists tell us it takes a minimum of 21 days to establish a habit. During that critical forming period, it only takes one day to falter.
• We allow outside influences to effect our internal resolve. We don’t hold ourselves accountable for our own success.
• We don’t know how to take resolutions seriously. Our ego prevents us from seeking support or learning how.

New Year’s Resolutions can become a superficial toy of prideful underachievers.

In absence of a process for commitment to your resolutions, is there any wonder why most people’s attempts meet with failure?

Ten Questions for Your Business and Personal Resolutions

1. In your personal life, professionally and in your organization, what do you have the potential to achieve in the coming year?
2. Have you committed it to writing with a way to routinely review it?
3. Will your resolve evaporate in three weeks, or are you willing to devote the time and conscious effort needed to develop productive new habits?
4. Are you willing to methodically develop and work a plan to realize the rewards of your achievement?
5. If you don’t take action with genuine resolve, will your situation be any different next year at this time?
6. Is your written resolution stated specifically in a way you can track your progress?
7. What kind of support system have you developed? Do you have someone that will support you and hold you accountable? Do you have a coach, accountability partner or mentor to help assure your short and long term goal achievement?
8. Have you considered being a coach for others in your organization or family by encouraging their resolve for achievement?
9. Will you spend the coming year working harder or working smarter?
10. What successes are you planning to celebrate next year at this time and how will you celebrate?

Related Articles

• Challenging Your Approach to 2013
• Why do New Year’s Resolutions Fail?

* The University of Scranton, Journal of Clinical Psychology study, March 2012