Start, Stop, Continue

With the new year comes both reflection on the past 12 months and intention setting for the 12 that lie ahead.  

Notice I wrote “intention” rather than “resolution.”  Merriam-Webster defines resolution as “the act or process of resolving,” which comes from the idea of something needing to be fixed.  Yes, there are things I’d like to do differently, but ultimately I’m not looking for corrections.  Intentions are the goals I create for myself – they are about who I want to be rather than making repairs.

I’ve been writing down what things I am ready to experiment with, where I’m potentially holding myself back, what I’m happy with and want to keep doing.  And being the change management nerd that I am, I turn to the reliable “Start, Stop, Continue” framework.  I love its simplistic, holistic approach.

Here are some questions I use to spark my thinking for this exercise:

What Do I Want To Start Doing?

What’s a project I’ve been wanting to do and keep putting off?

Where is there room for experimentation in my current work?

What development or training would I like to make time for?

What would giving back to my community look like, or how might I volunteer?

What Do I Want To Stop Doing?

What small tweaks can I make to create more space in my day?

What activities always end up at the bottom of my to-do list? 

Am I doing (or committing to) work that’s not satisfying me?

What Do I Want To Continue Doing?

What activities do I find most fulfilling?

Where are my clients realizing the most value in our work together?

What positive feedback am I receiving that I haven’t paid enough attention to?

If you’re not familiar with this process, you might want to give it a try.  Whether you’re just jotting down a few things or start filling up a page, I encourage you to stay focused on what things will have the most impact (and make you the most fulfilled).  You can also take it a step further by asking partners, clients, friends and family what they would recommend for you – a great way to integrate feedback that’s aligned with your intentions and ensure you’re directing your energy where it makes the most sense.