Particularly In 2020 – and every year-end…
This week will end with probably the most anticipated change in numbers – ever. Rolling from 2020 to 2021, there will be a collective sigh that this year is over. The fascinating thing was remembering back to last year, we probably had the same feeling – this was going to be THE year … for whatever it was you thought might happen. None of us probably anticipated how it would roll out, but I have found that a Retrospective is always in order, no matter how the year went. How should we engage in the process to think about What was, What might have been, and now What will be…
… A Return to Forever…
… and to my mind, the perfect soundtrack is one of my all-time favorite jazz fusion groups – Return to Forever. The name fits perfectly with the topic, but if you are unfamiliar with their music, you are in for a treat. Formed almost 50 years ago, most band members deserve a week on their own, which I will deliver soon. For now, they were like The Band with Dylan, having backed up Miles Davis on the groundbreaking Bitches Brew in 1970. Could they bring that same energy, creativity, and spontaneity to their own compositions? That was the question, and their first few steps were not steady…
Chick Corea went first with the music he was familiar with – Latin tempo jazz. If you recall the series on Santana, many were trying this in the early ’70s, and their first album was only released in Europe. It was met with a lule warm reception, although the cut for today would become a jazz standard and one that would increase attention on the band and particularly the young composer Corea. Its’ quiet pace is a good way to slow the craziness of last week before plunging into the New Year….
How will you engage differently?
There is nothing different engaging this week, or next week, or last week. They are relatively artificial boundaries that help mark our time. Yes, some projects (like taxes) have to end on the 31st, and we tend to focus on scoring the year based on markets, income, etc. I have found some simple practices you can engage in now for the year, and hopefully, they will provide a rhythm and momentum that can continue into the New Year.
First, assuming you have done your Weekly Accomplishments reports, pull those out. They will always contain things you have completely forgotten about. In my case, with no real “boss” to report to over the years, I have gotten lazy… but this is the 280th posting I have written – every day since March 1. So I have a record of what I have been thinking and can start to digest the journey. If you don’t have those weekly/biweekly records… let me strongly suggest you engage that as a practice for next week…and every week…
Second, it is time to write your year-end appraisal/self-assessment. Sure, your boss can/should assist, but frankly, even at the manager level, you want to do this yourself. Dust off the goals you thought looked good this time last year, and then try to construct a story that makes it look like you did that and more. It also allows you to take control of the narrative of the things that “didn’t” go the way you thought… and at least bend the story more in your favor. And here is a clue – most people are MUCH harder on themselves than their boss… so if you can make it sound reasonable, then they can (and will) make it sound even better if they are good boss…
…and what Goals should you adjust?
Next, as you do that, it is time to update your Individual Development Plan. Where you want to be in 5 years is now … one-year closer… are they still your goals? And are they even where you want them to be now…. Particularly this year, I suspect many long-term goals are being adjusted. As you work through the year that was, pay special attention to places that felt better/worse… and why. What was happening that you need to make happen more often? And what type of projects or goals do you want to watch for so that when they arrive, you get them to take you forward, vs just accepting the goals that help others?
As you engage Forever…
Finally, it’s time to take all of that and update your Resume – remember that thing? Yearly, it is good practice, as with your Development Plan, to update it with this year’s accomplishments from your Self Assessment. I also recommend you write your Resume as if it is a year or 2 from now. Those clear targets, which may look like Forever, help you ensure you have realistic targets to steer you through what will likely happen next year…
…which like 2020, or 2024 or 2008 or 2002… (pick your year) didn’t go the way we all thought. What surprised us this year will likely surprise us again. The fun thing about well-done Retrospectives remind us of what is timeless. So, engage with us for the week, and think about your own need for … the Return To Forever and the blessing of Crystal Silence…
