Goal setting & Core Values

Transcription

1 Goal setting & Core Values by Eric Klein

2 This report is part of the Core Values program from Dharma Consulting or via the website w w w.dharmaconsulting.com No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system without the prior written permission of the publishers. This is part of the entire ResistanceFree Change series which includes DVDs, audio programs, online training, etc. For information on Resistance-Free Change Training Programs, contact: Online: Snail Mail: Dharma Consulting, 1455 Hymettus Avenue, Encinitas, CA, USA Telephone: eric@dharmaconsulting.com Eric Klein, Dharma Consulting 2008 All Rights Reserved

3 When I first moved to San Diego, I had a hard time finding the ocean. Here s the reason: I d lived my whole life on the East coast. I had this deeply embedded sense-of-direction that the ocean was East. So, to go to the beach, I always headed east. Eventually, I d hit the water. For weeks, after moving to San Diego, whenever I wanted to drive to the beach, I d pull onto Highway 8 heading East. And drive towards the desert. It s like my internal GPS system hadn t updated itself to living in California. My internal sense-of-direction was still equating beach with East. So, unless I was paying attention, my automatic pilot would steer me in the wrong direction. The same thing can happen to you, when you re setting goals. The goals you chose may be taking you in the wrong direction. When you sit down to set goals whether for your personal life or your professional career it s important that you re heading in the right direction. Otherwise, you may set perfectly reasonable and welldesigned goals. Goals that are measurable and specific. That have timetables and benchmarks. Robust goals that follow all the guidelines of the goal- setting gurus. But, there s a problem. And it s a big one. The problem is one of direction. Before you set your goals be sure that you re heading in the right direction. If your goal is to spend the afternoon at the beach, be sure you re heading West (if you live in San Diego). If you don t, all the time and effort you put into achieving your goals can take you (and your life) in the wrong direction.

4 What s the wrong direction? The wrong direction is away from your core values. Away from your own deep sense of purpose and passion. It s possible, after all, to set and achieve goals that leave you feeling empty and inauthentic. You may hit the numbers; finish the project; do what you set out to do. But, even if you win a gold star and lots of applause, you can still have an empty feeling in your heart. This happens when your goals are out of synch with your core values. Many people lose track of their core values while growing up. As a child you look to adult authorities for guidance. Without thinking about it you adopt the values of those are older and more experienced. It s natural and it also can put you on a path that steers you away from your deeper core values. When you join an organization and enter a work culture, you look to your peers for guidance and advice on how to behave and succeed. Imperceptibly, their values become yours. Inherited values aren t bad. They re just different from core values. The problem comes when your goals are directed by values that come from others and not from your core. You may perform well, but if you are not aligned with your core values, passion and purpose are hard to sustain. When you use inherited values to guide your goal setting, you tend to drift off course. To get back on course start with core values. Before you set goals, establish your direction guided by core values. If you re reading this report, you already know that core values are those deep motivators that are the source of your passion and purpose in life.

5 (This definition is covered in the Choosing Core Values workbook available at ). When your goals are aligned with core values, you ll not only be more energized and engaged, you ll also have the confidence of knowing that you re moving in the direction of authenticity and integrity. Here s how to set your right direction & establish goals - 1) Review your core values Start by looking on page 10 of your Core Values workbook. That s where you documented the three core values that are most primary, central, and core to your passion and purpose in life. If you don t have a set of Core Values cards or a Core Values workbook go to 2) Set your context Now, consider the context for this goal setting session. Are you focused on your work? A relationship? Your health? Be specific as possible. By setting the context for goal setting, you provide a container within which your core values can come to life. My context for goal setting is: 3) Express your values Next, define what it means for you to live your core values in this specific context. Remember, how you express your values can vary with the context. The full and authentic expression of the core value love will likely be different at home than at work. Complete the following sentences. Write from your heart. You re not yet setting goals. Rather, you re discovering what it means to you to live your core values in this specific context.

6 Value: Meaning: What it means for me to live this value fully & authentically in (write context here) : Value: Meaning: What it means for me to live this value fully & authentically in (write context here) : Value: Meaning: What it means for me to live this value fully & authentically in (write context here) : Now, that you ve established direction based on your core values, it s time to set goals.

7 4) Set your goal(s) Read over what you wrote in step 3. Ideally, read the words out loud. Notice how you respond to the words. What images arise? What thoughts? What emotions? You don t need to do anything about any of those responses other than be aware. Awareness is the most important factor in setting and achieving goals that are aligned with your core values. Read the words from your heart. Inspire yourself with the power of your core values. Then keeping connected to your core values, declare a goal that you want to achieve. One that is a direct expression of your core values. Now, write it down. And read it again. Out loud. If you have more than one goal repeat the same process. Don t make a laundry list of goals. That kind of listing process is usually disconnected from the heart and guts of your core values. Be focused. And concentrate on one or two goals that really matter. My goal: My goal: My goal:

8 Aligning your goals with your core values does not eliminate the inevitable challenges or changes of life. Life is a bumpy road. And nobody, regardless of how it looks from the outside, gets a smooth ride. Bumps are manageable when your direction is right. Bumps are part of the process; the expected ups and downs that you encounter on your values-based path. You don t get knocked of course by the bumps or the challenges. You learn from them and use them to deepen your connection to core values.

9 About the author Eric Klein is a visionary, author, community leader, business advisor, and professional speaker on leadership, and resistance-free organizational change. For 20 years, Eric has worked with over 18,000 leaders from a wide variety of settings: Fortune 500 companies, healthcare, municipal, governmental and non-profit organizations as well as mid-size companies. Over the past two decades Eric Klein has been a leading voice in the movement to bring greater spirit, meaning, and authenticity to the workplace. His transformative message and practical approach has helped leaders create organizations where values and purpose fuel productivity, accountability, and collaboration. Eric Klein has held management positions at two Fortune 500 companies and successfully developed businesses in the education, publishing, and consulting industries. Eric combines his experiences in business with 30 years of teaching and practicing meditation. Eric s most recent book is You are the Leader You ve Been Waiting For: Enjoying High Performance and High Fulfillment at Work won a 2008 Nautilus Book Award for being a world-changing book promoting positive social change and responsible leadership. He is also the co-author of the best selling book Awakening Corporate Soul: Four Paths to Unleash the Power of People at Work (over 250,000 copies sold) and To Do or Not To Do: How Successful Leaders Make Better Decisions based on research and experiences with more than 200 companies. His unique work has been featured on CNN and in the LA Times, HealthCare Forum, The American Medical Journal, Leadership Reflections, Quality and Productivity, and the Association Management Magazine.

10 Here s my recommended next step: Go to and sign up for the ResistanceFree Change newsletter (I ll also sent you a free copy of the Why Change Efforts Fail e-book). Other Recommended Products Available at Leading Resistance-Free Change Why do people resist change? How can you turn that resistance around so people to make organizational success their personal mission? In Leading ResistanceFree Change you learn systematic way for accelerating change without the pain and struggle. This book will change how you think about change. Accelerating Change: The Art & Science of Goal Achievement A complete system for creating the results you care about without struggle or resistance. 75% of all change efforts fail. Yours don t have to. Energize Your Team with Core Values A complete program for developing your team using core values. Strengthen alignment. Understand shared values. Easily create a powerful and compelling mission and vision. Includes participant materials and leader guide. For free report Why Change Efforts Fail Go to