Well over a decade ago I was approached by the Townsville Crocodiles Mens Basketball team and asked to run the players through a few team building sessions and several activities to take them outside of their comfort zones. The objective of the three day activity was to provide the players with a different perspective to training and a never say die attitude. Placing the players in this predicament enabled them to pull together and work as a team through shared adversity.
The players were encouraged to explore and expand the range of their abilities in a supportive but achievable environment. By participating in a team activity outside of hoops, polished hardwood and an orange ball would allow the players to discover untapped personal resources as they adapt the success methods of others, and surpass their own expectations.
At the half way mark of the season, the Crocs were sitting at the bottom of the NBL ladder and needed a well executed plan to get themselves out of the rut they were in. We discussed and devised a detailed and structured plan and made a pact not to deviate from our goals, no matter what adversity our opposition or outside forces threw at us. Every single player and coach bought into what we were trying to achieve through weighing in and offering suggestions.
“If people don’t weigh in, they can’t buy in.” – Patrick Lencioni
We even agreed not to shave, until we lost a game. After setting an NBL record and winning 16 games straight, the players raised $70,000 for charity and had members of the public paying the players to shave their beards.
You see, the human brain is similar to a heat-seeking missile. It seeks out things that are relevant to what you wish to achieve. Once the brain knows what you want, your subconscious mind will go into overdrive to ensure that you achieve your goal.
The more detailed the steps you can break your goals down into, the better. Start with the end in mind, visualise it, picture it, and even try to feel it. Once you are in this state of mind, start asking yourself questions like,
“How can I have this?”
“What will it take for me to achieve this?”
“What do I need to do to get here?”
“What will I lose to achieve this goal?”
“What are my non negotiable’s?”
Once you start asking yourself these valuable questions, your brain will start providing answers or excuses. Don’t let the excuses stop or deter you. Anything that comes into your mind, write down or record.
I’ll say it again: the more detailed, the better. Include specific but realistic dates by which you would like to have these goals achieved. Then your subconscious will start to go to work. It will concentrate and fixate on anything associated with what you have decided on.
Along the winding and bumpy road to fulfilling your goals and becoming successful, you are going to encounter obstacles and setbacks. These obstacles vary from not having enough time to not having enough money to the necessity and time needed to learn and develop new skills to friends and family disapproving or not supporting you to fear of failure. If you are not clear with the details of your goals, it is easy to lose focus and to fall victim to these obstacles.
The key to overcoming obstacles is to anticipate them and devise a plan for when they arise so you know how you will deal with them.
We are three quarters of the way through the year. If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging. Change things up, come up with a different plan and set new and detailed goals and make the last 16 weeks of the year your winning streak.
My takeaway for this week:
If you don’t come across obstacles and hardships in the pursuit of achieving your goals, that just means your goal isn’t big enough and you are not gaining any self-improvement.
Most see obstacles as a sign to quit or give up, but if achieving your goals were easy, everyone would do it.
Are you aware that the best discussions happen after you read this email?
If you would like a copy of my goal setting infographic, click on this link, download it and place it on your fridge or office notice board.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/b7np5onccd45t5p/Long%20Term%20Infographic_Long.jpg?dl=0
If you are interested in bringing your team together and improving team performance, now is the perfect time to prepare for a massive 2017 and build your strategy before the Christmas rush.
Take the next step and drop me a line and we can coordinate a catch up…..http://beyoubegreat.com.au/get-in-touch/
Ritch