THINKING SMALL IN ACTIONWe thought it might be useful to set out a handful of goals using our seven-step framework, so that you could use these as a template for setting out your own goals. We have chosen four common goals as examples, but you can apply the same approach to your specific goal. Of course, not every step and rule will be applicable for each goal (see appendix 2 for a full list of rules). So while in the first goal we show how every rule could be used, for the others we show how you can use a combination of selected rules. We’d like you to think of this seven-step framework as the scaffolding around which you can achieve your goals.
STEP 1: SET
Choose the right goal
Get healthy and improve your fitness – by running a marathon
Set a specific target and deadline
Run a marathon in under four hours by 31 May (e.g. in 5 months’ time)
Break it down into manageable steps
Set up a weekly training regime focusing on different elements (interval training; medium distance runs; longer runs; swim/cycle) and enter into a 10k (Feb), half marathon (March) and marathon (May)
STEP 2: PLAN
Keep it simple
Train four times a week
Create an actionable plan
Schedule training sessions in your diary for Monday (interval training) and Wednesday mornings (medium distance) before work, and on a Saturday morning (long distance runs) and Sunday morning (swim or cycle)
Turn the plan into habits
Repeat your Monday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday morning routines in response to the same cues (alarm goes off, have light breakfast, go and train)
STEP 3: COMMIT
Make a binding commitment
Commit to your goal and plan
Make it public and write it down
Email work colleagues about your target time and training plan
Ask a work colleague to act as a referee for your weekly run targets
STEP 4: REWARD
Put something at stake for a headline objective
Book a long weekend away with your partner for June, which you can only take if you achieve your goal
Build good habits through smaller rewards
Only listen to you favourite podcast and albums when running
Beware of backfire effects
Sign up to give £200 to Chelsea FC (the football team you loathe) if you finish in a time over four hours, and £500 if you do not complete or run in any marathon by May
STEP 5: SHARE
Ask for help
Agree with your partner that on nights before training sessions you both won’t drink and will go to bed before 10 p.m.
Tap into your social networks
Find a running partner for the long distance runs on Saturdays and cycle/swim with your partner on Sundays
Join a group
Fundraise in partnership with others (e.g. sign-up with a charity that has a big group of people signed up for the same marathon)
STEP 6: FEEDBACK
Know where you stand in relation to your goal
Keep a run tracker to record training times and distances
Make feedback timely, specific and actionable
During training runs and races keep track of time vs required average speed (5 mins 35 seconds per kilometre)
Compare training plan and run trackers with others training for a marathon
STEP 7: STICK
Practice with focus and effort
Slowly build up stamina and pace, focusing every run on improving target times
Test and learn
Test different types of trainers, socks and strapping to reduce foot blisters during longer runs
Reflect and celebrate
Hang a photo of yourself crossing the line in the kitchen, along with a beneficiary of the charity you fundraised for
GOAL: Spending more time with my young kids
STEP 1: SET
Choose the right goal
Strengthen social relationships – with your young family
Set a specific target and deadline
Help read, bath and get your kids to sleep at least three work nights per week throughout 2017
STEP 2: PLAN
Keep it simple
Leave work by 5 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays
Create an actionable plan
Get to work by 7.30 a.m. and schedule meetings to finish by 4.30 p.m. Set a daily reminder/alarm on your phone for 4.45 p.m. with a photo of your kids. If this reminder goes off and you're still working then shut down the computer and finish any urgent work after you’ve put the kids to bed
STEP 3: COMMIT
Make a binding commitment
Make a promise to your kids on Sunday evening what you will read with them that week and email this list of books to a designated work colleague
STEP 4: REWARD
Beware of backfire effects
When you don’t meet your weekly target, you have to buy your colleague's lunches for a week and your kids choose your clothes for the weekend
Ask for help
Ask your office manager to help manage diary to reduce late meetings and overnight travel, and leave the office together at 5 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays
STEP 6: FEEDBACK
Know where you stand in relation to your goal
Keep track of progress on calendar in kitchen at home, and send a photo of this to your colleague on a weekly basis
STEP 7: STICK
Test and learn
Try singing songs as well as reading different types of stories to your kids (picture books, lift-the-flap books, longer stories) and see what they enjoy most and what helps settle them for bed most effectively
Reflect and celebrate
Every month ask your kids what books they liked most and share these with friends
STEP 1: SET
Choose the right goal
Strengthen social relationships at work – by improving communication and feedback with your team
Set a specific target and deadline
Improve team scores related to staff engagement, communication and feedback in the next annual all-staff survey
STEP 2: PLAN
Keep it simple
Block out a dedicated period of time in your diary (9 a.m.–2 p.m. on Fridays) for catch-ups and feedback
Create an actionable plan
Use Fridays to schedule one-to-ones with staff that you manage directly (on rotating monthly basis), hold weekly drop-in sessions for all staff to seek and provide feedback, establish a standing item at team meetings to share successes and challenges and send a monthly email to team summarizing the key priorities, achievements and lessons learnt
Turn the plan into habits
Dedicate fifteen minutes at the end of each day to collate and analyse feedback and thirty minutes first thing on Friday mornings to prep for catch-ups and weekly feedback slots at team meetings. Encourage team to do the same by sending default calendar reminders to all team members
STEP 3: COMMIT
Make it public and write it down
Write to your team and manager committing to weekly team meetings, drop-in sessions, feedback sessions and emails, and schedule a three-month review to assess progress
Build good habits through smaller rewards
Set up a staff reward scheme (up to £150) to recognize team members who provide the most honest and actionable feedback during team feedback sessions. Team members are encouraged to spend £100 on an experience for themselves and £50 on someone who has helped in relation to the area they’ve been giving feedback on
STEP 5: SHARE
Tap into your social networks
Set up a rapid feedback system, where all staff provide feedback to each other at the end of projects
Join a group
Link up with others across the organization seeking to improve communication and management, by establishing monthly peer sharing and learning sessions
STEP 6: FEEDBACK
Know where you stand in relation to your goal
Keep track of weekly emails and feedback given, and review these on a monthly basis (in between three-month reviews)
STEP 7: STICK
Test and learn
Try different ways of structuring feedback sessions and emails to see what stimulates the most productive discussions and engagement