Have you ever felt like you got off to a great start on your goals, but somewhere along the way you fell off track?

Falling off track can be used to our advantage.  It teaches us the importance of flexibility, patience, and endurance as leaders.  It also shows our team that we are strong leaders and can handle unexpected situations as they arise.

THE UNAVOIDABLE TRUTH

Seasons in life will change, as well as schedules and agendas; events will flood our calendars and situations will arise.  These situations may throw us off track, causing us to temporarily lose focus of our goals.  Being open and flexible to these situations can help us avoid much stress and disappointment.

5 ways to get back on track with goals and stay there:

REST

We can stress out and even lose sleep when dealing with the pressures of failing to meet our goals.  Rest is healthy and helps us stay balanced when handling unexpected situations that can shift our focus.  It’s important we find time in our busy routine to rest, allowing ourselves to unwind, find hobbies, and make time for fun.

REFLECT

Taking time to reflect on how we got off track is important in helping us see:

• Where we overbooked ourselves.
• How to better handle and delegate future situations.
• Make any needed adjustments and deadlines to goals.

REFOCUS

Losing momentum can feel like starting over, even effecting our level of motivation and focus.  Here’s what we can do to get back on track:

1. Redefining the desired outcome of our goals.
2. Take small achievable steps forward.

This will help us get back on track regaining the momentum we may have lost.

SAY NO

Many of us end up with unwanted commitments all because we struggle with saying no.  As hard as it may seem learning to say no can help us avoid stress, allowing us to focus on the things that matter most.  When we set boundaries and know our limits, we give ourselves permission to say no.  Learning this powerful concept is liberating and positions us to be more effective.

Some benefits of saying no include:

1. More time to focus on our goals.
2. Less responsibility, less stress.
3. Greater performance and progress.
4. Boundaries and limits that empower us to live balanced lives.
5. We set an example for the people we lead.

BEFORE YOU COMMIT DECIDE WHAT YOU’LL QUIT

Unless we know our limits we will continue taking on new projects resulting in us being overwhelmed.  With too much on our plate we will be less focused where it matters most.  Before we commit to a new project we should look at what we are willing to let go.  We either make an even trade or say no.  This will protect us from over loading ourselves and keep us from burning out.

My prayer is that as leaders we can learn to effectively handle unexpected situations that may arise.

From The Heart, Dan Chavez