How Are Those New Year’s Resolutions Going?

The start of a new year is one of those times when we inevitably start setting goals.  What do we want to achieve in the next twelve months?  What do we want to be celebrating when the year is over?

There’s a fine line to be drawn between realism and optimism when it comes to setting targets for the year ahead.  That’s true for all of us as individuals (however much we might want that magical lottery win…), but it can often be doubly so when you’re setting goals for a business or organisation.  There are all kinds of strings attached to each ambition we have. 

Want more people coming through the doors of your museum, for example?  Excellent.  But how are you going to get them there?  What budget do you have in place for all the work that’s needed to achieve that goal? Do you have volunteers or staff with the right skills to get it done, or do you need to bring in outside help?

Here at Little Bird HQ, we’re big fans of old fashioned pen and paper.  The sheets get spread out on the desk and we write down everything we want to get done – be it that day, that week or even that year.  Once the targets have been put to paper, they’re hung on the wall so we can’t help but see them and therefore – in theory – can’t help but stick to them.

Being such a small team really helps in our case.  It’s easier to get everyone on board with a new goal when “everyone” could fit in an old-fashioned phone box, after all.  For larger teams, taking time to ensure everyone is looking in the same direction, with the same aims, can be crucial.  

So, get those pens and paper out, scribble on a whiteboard, have a full on bain-storming session.  But however you go about setting your goals for the year ahead, make sure they’re enough to get everyone excited about reaching them – and ensure they are within your reach!