Perseverance: Flexibility in Action

Believe it or not, obstacles make achieving goals more challenging, and motivating. But without the right attitude, you might lose steam and give up. It's important to stay positive, as clichéd as that sounds, and to learn from the situation. Flexibility is key. It helps you reevaluate and adjust your course as needed to reach your goal.

Four key steps can help you address obstacles:

• Recognize the obstacle: How do you respond when you face an obstacle to your goal? Do you get flustered? Angry? Negative? As an observer of your own behavior, you can gain insight into the situation. You'll see more clearly what the obstacle is by stepping back, enabling a broader perspective.
• Reaffirm your abilities: When facing a major obstacle, you may overemphasize your setbacks or make negative statements like "If I can't execute my plan as I conceived it, I won't reach my goal" or "Why bother even trying?" Challenging such statements and thoughts and focusing on your successes so far will help you remain optimistic. After all, one setback doesn't mean your goal is no longer possible.
• Refocus your goal: You'll want to come up with alternative ideas or solutions that will put you back on the path to achieving your goal. Brainstorming with colleagues can help. To achieve your ultimate goal, you may also need to change some of your key milestones or targets. But changing some aspects of your goal is better than abandoning it.
• Resume with a new plan: Focus on what you can control. Then take decisive action, asserting your vision through your new plan of action. You may have to change your approach, milestones, or targets but you can still stay true to your goal. Keep your strengths in mind – you'll be better able to move forward with confidence.

Overview/Description

To be successful at achieving your goals, you need to persevere. But not blindly. Creating an inspiring goal gives you a framework for your efforts. And anticipating potential obstacles helps you prepare to deal with them. But overcoming obstacles as they arise requires flexibility, and a willingness to adjust goals, while keeping the ultimate aim intact. This Business Impact explores how, when you come across an obstacle, you can reevaluate and adjust your goals, without giving up on them.

Target Audience

Professionals in non-managerial roles