The New Year has come and gone. We celebrated 2018 and welcomed in 2019. With it, we created goals, plans, and resolutions. Most goals tend to slowly peter out as the weeks pass, so how do we accomplish what we set out to do?

Here are some techniques to help you reach those daunting goals.

#1. First, write down all the goals you want to accomplish. Slowly go through them and find ones that can be combined, put aside, and those that will build on top of each other. You want to start out with three goals that you can accomplish in 90 days. If you start out with too many goals, you'll lose track of what is important, and you'll get lost. With this comes neglecting your goals, feeling guilty, and then losing confidence that you can accomplish them.

Choose one most important goal, the one most vital to achieve, and then find two more that will help you reach that main goal.

#2. Second, write down the specifics of each goal and brainstorm how you will accomplish them. Write words, sentences and motivational quotes that have to do with your goals. Hang them around your home or office to remind you. Let family members, co-workers, and friends know what you are trying to accomplish. The more reminders you have the more likely you are to keep them.

#3. Third, turn these goals and resolutions into a habit. Every night or right when you wake up, write down the steps you will take that day that will lead you to your goal. Make sure to work toward your goal every single day. By doing this daily, it will become a habit.

#4. Fourth, break down your goals into small achievable tasks. Schedule three things you will do each day for your goal, setting aside 10 minutes a day for each of them.

The most important rule is to write down your goals. Write them down before you go to bed or right when you get up. Keep the paper, notebook, or journal with you all the time to keep you on track. When we write our goals down, pen to paper, our mind keeps them at the forefront. Also, allow others to help keep you accountable.

The achievement of our 2019 goals can only be accomplished if we really want to succeed and push ourselves to follow through. Hopefully, these steps will bring a successful and fulfilling year.

Recommended listening for goal-setting:

100 Ways to Motivate Yourself

Execution

Goal Setting

Good Strategy, Bad Strategy

The Magic of Thinking Big

Psychology of Achievement

Succeed

The Willpower Instinct

For more information, or for any questions or concerns you may have, contact us at dassi@3leafgroup.com. It's our pleasure to make your experience as easy as possible!

Check it out right HERE!

Still confused? We love questions. Contact us with all your app queries at dassi@3leafgroup.com.

It's February 1.  An entire month has passed since the inception of our ground-breaking plans to better ourselves.  

Anyone making progress? 

I've often heard complaints about the gym being too crowded during the month of January.  Too many people believing they'll stick to an exercise routine that will actually help them shed the 10-15 lbs. they've been meaning to shed for the past 10-15 years.  

If you have met with success or at least maintained consistency on your road to improvement – good for you.  As for the others, well, there's always next year.   

So what makes New Year's resolutions so exciting?  What's all the hype about? Change. Improvement. Advancement.  Everyone is up for a little change.  Especially when the change is for the better.  The idea of starting with a fresh slate is always enticing and encouraging.  

So, if you're having a difficult time sticking with your goals don't get discouraged.  Break down your goals into smaller, attainable steps - or set up landmarks along the way.  Reward yourself for reaching the small accomplishments (and no, in this case, a pie of pizza doesn't count as a reward).  Don't get discouraged. Working out 3 days a week instead of every day for the rest of the year is probably a more attainable aspiration.  

Change is exciting – but you have to work hard for it – consistently.  If your resolution was to pound the gym – I hope your sneakers haven't already accumulated dust.  Bottom line, don't get burned out.  After all, it is only February 1. 

1st in a series of blog posts about Essentialism written by Greg McKeown. You will hear Ahron Katz of 3Leaf Group talk about how Esentialism is changing him.

Prioritizing your time may be difficult in the summer with work schedules, family gatherings, and fun excursions. Instead of spreading yourself thin - try to give 100% of your efforts on each task at hand. Prioritizing your time is not just for the office - it's for every day life as well. Here are some helpful hints according to Time Magazine to help you stay on task and focused -- even when the sun is shining and your jet skiis are calling your name.

1. Go over finances -- reassess your family budget 

2. Read (or listen to audiobooks of course!)

3. Review your project list - at home and at the office

4. Get ahold of your email overload -- minimize that inbox!

5.  Take a break!

6. Reconsider your overall professional goals - summer can be a time of reflextion too!

7.  Rebuild & reorganize your work enviornment (home desks included too)

8.  Give back -- if youre taking some time to reflect -- take some time to give back to your community as well. 

Click here to read the full article -- and maximize your summer - while still enjoying it of course. 

According to TrainingIndustry.com, more than 40 percent of the workforce works from home at least two days a week. Nearly 4.5 million college students will take at least one course online this year. Every worker that telecommutes saves the company $20,000 a year and studies show that telecommuting can increase employees' job satisfaction, improve work performance, and reduce stress.

It's no doubt telecommuting has its perks.  But the question is – can anyone do it?  Are all employees well-qualified to join the corporate pajama bash?  Just like certain skills are required for traditional job settings – there are certain skills that are ESSENTIAL to understand and master before an employee can be a true telecommuter.

Here are just a few suggestions:

• Ensure that your work environment is a healthy one.  Just because you're working from home, doesn't mean you can slack on sleep, exercise, or other healthy habits.  Treat your work environment like a true, professional one.
• Designate a specific area for work.  Bringing your laptop to the couch while watching the game may be enticing, but it's a sure way to get little work done.
• Keep your surroundings professional.  Unless it's an emergency – keep yapping kids or barking dogs out of the telephone conversation.
• Set a schedule.  Tell family and friends not to disturb you during your hours of work if you really want to get things accomplished.
• Check personal email, social networking sites, and internet browsing at set times.  It may be hard to avoid Facebook notifications when they pop up, but we all know how easy it is to get side-tracked.

These are just 5 of many qualities a successful telecommuter must undertake.  Discuss your telecommuting environment with fellow telecommuters and bounce ideas off each other. 

Bottom line:  A flexible workplace can be a positive experience IF it is treated with respect and professionalism.  

It's 2014 - Is your company going through change?

Linked In's Top 10 Predictions for Training in 2014 involve a good amount of modifications -- like watching talent and specialized needs go global, focusing on a “holistic” work experience rather than plain “engagement”, taking talent mobility and mobile career development seriously, among other major trends. 

But once you've accepted the need to change – how do you successfully implement the changes in a streamlined fashion?

In short, executives must not only express the desire to change and move forward with every task, meeting, and project they put forth – but they must also provide the resources, budget, and support to make a successful change possible.  In other words – If you're going to implement changes – go ALL the way, EVERY day.  Make the change your top priority and make sure all employees understand the expectations and details concerning these changes.

A recent article in LaMarsh Global highlights common questions executives who are implementing changes may be asking themselves.  These points stand as excellent guidelines on how to achieve a smooth, successful change within your company.  

Want to make change happen?  Here's what you need to do…

•  Ensure everyone has the same understanding and interpretation of the company's future desired state
• Make certain the organization understands the priority of the change
• Convince the organization the change is necessary and important to the future
• Decide and communicate the positive and negative consequences of deciding to change or not to change
• Provide the resources and budget to make success possible
• Accept responsibility as the ultimate individual accountable for successful change or failure

Make it clear.  Make it consistent.  Make it happen. 

That's how to successfully make changes in 2014. 

If you're looking to boost performance and creativity in your company, the last thing you need is a hostile work environment.  Having employees be civil, cordial, even nice to eachother is a sure way to get things accomplished and accomplished well. 

The Wall Street Journal recently published a few pointers for keeping the peace in the office – according to Christine Porath of Georgetown's McDonough School of Business. 

Firstly, Porath mentions the 10/5 Rule.  In the presence of co-workers:  Within 10 feet, acknowledge the person, and within 5 feet say hello.  That means no running in the opposite direction, not walking with your phone in front of your face, and not completely ignoring the person you pass.  Yes, saying hello to collegeaues and flashing a smile are the latest bullet points on employees' to do lists.

Porath's other pointers include addressing performance or other issues in private, and avoiding criticizing people behind their backs.  It's best for managers to never say or write anything they wouldn't be proud to sign.

Respecting privacy is common knowledge.  But saying hello and acknowledging other employees – may seem like such a simple task, it gets overlooked.  According to a study by Georgetown University and Thunderbird School of Global Management of almost 3,000 participants, 50% of workers felt they were treated rudely at least once a week in 2011.  Public relations firms in 2013 concluded that 26% of employees who believe they are treated uncivilly leave their jobs to find work elsewhere.  

Can you believe smiling at someone could promote job retention?  It's true. 

So brighten those pearly whites, lift up your head – and flash a smile, a hello, or a simple wave to your fellow co-workers.  It'll make both your days. 

On the heels of our last post -

Check out this great article from Training Industry (today's leading resource pool for the training community) about motivation in the workplace and effective employee recognition plans...

Employee recognition makes the corporate world go round. 

Why?

Because next to an all-you-can-drink Keurig machine, being recognized and rewarded for your hard work is most likely #1 on your list at your workplace.

Employee recognition is valued on both ends of the power scale.  Managers recognize its importance because it is the key factor that drives loyalty, enthusiasm, and performance.  Employees value recognition because it generates a feeling of self-worth and importance – which leads to happiness in the workplace and the desire to do more. 

Sounds like a win-win situation.

What do today's outstanding employee recognition programs look like?  According to a survey and data collected by the Great Place To Work Institute, here are 5 great components to a successful employee recognition program:

•  Make it Personal:  Yes, it may be easy to give everyone the same box of chocolates or Amazon gift card – but making a reward more personal goes a long way.  Additionally, catering to the personality and needs of the recipient also goes even greater distance.  If a project lead is an introvert and not a sports fan, perhaps box seat tickets to the basketball game with 50 friends of his choice is not the appropriate prize.   Taking the time to understand what an employee would appreciate – and following through with an appropriate reward speaks volumes.
  
• Make it Specific:  Along with granting a personal reward – make sure you clearly state the behavior and actions for which the reward was granted.  Fellow employees should know exactly which behaviors are recognized and how they are in turn rewarded.
•  Don't be Exclusive - Consider the Bigger Picture:  Rewarding one individual when a team is worthy of praise is a sure way to receive negative feedback.  Superstars aren't the only ones deserving of praise.  Yes, if an accomplishment was achieved solely by one individual – all the praise should be hers.  But if there were others involved – be sure to recognize the group.
•  Consider Peer-to-Peer Recognition:  Having employees evaluate and praise eachother is rewarding on many levels.  It generates camaraderie and healthy competition. 
•  Ensure Recognition Reaches the Top:  Yes, it feels good to have a manager recognize your work.  But what about the branch manager?  Vice president?  CEO of the company?  When an employee goes above or beyond – make sure he knows his work was noticed and appreciated not just by his immediate hierarchy – but by top management as well.

When developing your own employee recognition program, keep these 5 important points in mind.   Remember, the surest way to generate productivity and enthusiasm is recognizing and rewarded hard work by those who get it done! 

In the corporate world, much emphasis is placed on group thinking, problem solving, and collaboration.  Yes, these strategies promote creative thinking in the form of bouncing ideas back and forth between colleagues.  A premature thought may be enhanced by a fellow employee – and the collaboration between the two can lead to an innovative concept that could not have been developed alone.  

However, whatever happened to thinking on one's own?  Being given the privacy and freedom to develop thoughts and ideas in an uninterrupted space?  It's called solitude.  

The question is – what fosters GREATER creative thinking – teamwork or solitude?  

There are two sides of that argument.

According to Susan Cain, author of “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking,” – research shows that performance weakens as the group gets larger.  One of the primary reasons why large numbers generate weaker performance is the clash between personalities.  Louder individuals often talk more – even if their ideas are futile - thereby taking up precious time and energy from the group. On the flipside, solid ideas from introverted employees are left unheard.

Team collaboration does have its positive qualities in that it creates a sense of camaraderie and works as a “social glue” to bring employees together.  However, we must not lose sight of the importance of fostering independent thinking – and giving employees time and space alone to solve problems.  The most creative insights were developed through – yes - solitude. 

It is the job of the decision makers and managers to get creative and bridge the gap between teamwork and solitude.  Online discussion forums are a great solution to this debate because it is a communal forum in which collaboration and teamwork is practiced, but it allows individuals to independently respond and provide input.   

Any other ideas?  Please share your thoughts. 

It's easy to categorize animators, musicians, and artists as "creative" innovators - cultivating new ideas, trying out new concepts, and pushing limits.

But what about us boring desk-job people?  What about the suit-and-tie, number crunching, coffee-spilling, conference calling people - can we be creative too?

Sure we can, but we need some inspiration from the "truly creative" crowd.

Take Dreamworks Animation for example.  These people created Shrek, Madasgar, and King-Fu Panda - they definitely fall under the "creative" catagory.  But did you know that the employees at Dreamworks continuinly provide innovative ideas to their managers who not only listen, but encourage these suggestions and work hard to implement them.  A fun new food choice in the office cafeteria?  Funky office equipment?  A crazy new concept for an animated motion picture? Noted.  No idea goes unnoticed.  

Furthermore, employees are not only encouraged to come up with new ideas - but their presentation of that new idea is also valued.

Why are these ideas and the presentation of these ideas so crucial?   Creative skills will be a more important driver of the economy than technical skills, according to a DreamWorks survey of 150 senior human resource executives.

Employees feel validated when their creative ideas are recognized.  They feel motivated to contribute and feel valued as a creative mind and a dedicated worker.  Dan Satterthwaite, head of Human Resources at Dreamworks states -  "Employers that want the most engaged and innovative employees will support each individual's skills."  

So there lies the answer to our question.  Can the number crunchers be just as creative as the animators?

The answer?

Yes - but the success of the company lies in the employers' response.

Want an innovative, engaged employee?  Listen to his ideas.  Encourage creative thinking.  Value his suggestions.

Bring on the creativity! 

Have you heard the latest from Yahoo! News regarding wasted commuting time? 

A new report from Texas A&M Transportation Institute found that the nation lost about $121 Billion in time and fuel costs in 2011 alone.  On average, Americans are allotting one hour for a car ride that would normally take 20 minutes without traffic.  That's a lot of wasted time, energy, and gas – not to mention a crazy amount of carbon dioxide unnecessarily filling our atmosphere. 

Yikes!

The experts suggest “implementing transportation improvements to reduce congestion.”  Well, we at 3Leaf Group have another suggestion.  If you're stuck commuting – necessarily or unnecessarily – simply use you're time wisely.  Spend those minutes toward professional development.  Pop in an audiobook to stimulate your mind.  Learn better communication skills, how to deal with difficult people, tips for transitioning into new roles at work.  Let's change these statistics from "WASTED time spent in car" to simply - “time spent in car”.  If you're using your time in your car productively – by learning something new, expanding your mind, and growing personally and professionally – then you're not wasting your time at all - you're making the most of it. 

Sure, transportation improvements would help.  It's 2013 – time to break out the commuter rocket blaster.  But until that happens – let's turn shield time into productive time.  We suggest listening to professional development audiobooks on your daily commute! 

Check out the full article on Yahoo! News.

In parenting it goes something like this:

Don't just point out the negative behavior; praise the positive behavior as well.  Reward or recognize a child's good deed in hope they will continue in the same path.  If you're a parent, you know the drill:  sticker charts, a small treat, a trip to the toy store, etc.

In the workplace, it's called positive reinforcement -- recognizing and rewarding a desired behavior in an effort to encourage its continuance.  Offering incentives, rewards, or even encouraging words are all forms of positive reinforcement.  As an effective leader, it's crucial to recognize employees' good behavior – and not only communicate when a problem arises.

Why?  It's simple.  Positive reinforcement boosts employee morale, encourages the continuance of good behavior, and gives employees a feeling of self-worth and accomplishment.  After all, a company is only as strong as its employees, so it may be worthwhile to ensure your people are doing their best possible work.

Sorry, but the philosophy of being a hard-nosed boss that pushes its employees to the brink of a breakdown just doesn't work these days.  The workplace is too competitive and the economy too unreliable to scare employees away.  If you want to retain employees and productive employees – recognize their hard work – and make them feel good about it.

Looking for ideas on how to reward your employees?  Here are a few:

• Provide the option for flexible work schedules to those deserving
• Write thank-you notes to employees who exerted positive behavior or exemplified a specific company value
• Take your team out for lunch
• Provide a training opportunity for an elite group of employees who scored high on a performance evaluation

Or, you could simply pass out chocolate and candy… we have word that those methods work too.  

Imagine this:  A workforce with no set schedule, no mandatory attendance, and no centralized location to get the job done. 

Confused?  Don't be.  A new modern day philosophy is emerging in our workforce that slashes conventional workplace practices.  The philosophy is known as ROWE – Results-Only Work Environment.   Judging employees based on productivity instead of time spent. In other words, work no longer refers to where you go – but more importantly, what you do and how you do it.

So if work didn't require a safety net of face-to-face conferences, 9-5 agendas, and 25 minute commutes where would you be?  A matinee? Yoga class? Perhaps morphing into your dream alter-ego -- the King of Carpool?  Well, it's possible – if you embrace our workforce's newest trend – harnessing brain power and performance regardless of time and space.  

This concept isn't too far from telecommuting, another major trend in today's workforce. More and more employees are seeking flexible work schedules with the opportunity to telecommute.  According to the Telework Research Network, 40% of U.S. employees hold jobs that that could be done at home, 61% of federal employees are considered eligible for telework (5.2% do so on a regular basis), and most importantly, 72% of employees say flexible work arrangements would cause them to choose one job over another while 37% specifically cite telecommuting. 

For all you traditionalists and non-believers, the proof is in the pudding.  Heidi Golledge, chief executive at CareerBliss, an advisory career community quoted in Forbes, CNN Money, and CNBC states that work-life balance is the key to determining employee happiness.  In fact, flexible work schedules and maintaining a healthy work-life balance is a top priority – reigning even over salary.  And we all know, happy employees are productive employees – time and time again. 

The concept of training falls perfectly under this new and exciting approach.  Why stress over the technicalities of physical presence, space limitations and time restrictions when trainers should be focusing on more important things like receptiveness, effectiveness, and usability.  How does one measure the success of training anyway? In the end result of course – the output and the response, not necessarily in the time spent or the space in which the training was delivered. 

Time and commitment are both certainly important.  But in 2012, with technical mobility and communication tools at our finger-tips, working and training should no longer be defined by a square foot radius.  Take it on the road or take it at home – just get it done and have something to show for it.  Whatever you'll do in your extra time is up to you, just be prepared to prove your performance and demonstrate your productivity.  And if you could still be King of Carpool – congratulations, you've just won the best of both worlds.

It's 2012.  People are thinking outside the box, especially in the corporate world.  Work no longer refers to where you go, but more importantly, what you do - and how you do it.  Take the traditional conference for example -- a number of employees shuffling into an ordinary office, sitting around an ordinary table, taking ordinary notes in an ordinary notebook.  You know what the end result is don't you? Ordinary ideas, ordinary insights, and ordinary results. 

Looking to be more than ordinary? I would hope so.

Wouldn't it be fun to try something new?  Something that would generate creativity, excitement, and innovation.  Check this out – the conference bike.  It's a bike peddled by seven rides who sit in circular position around a steering wheel.  One person steers, while the others pedal in unison to achieve an effortless and fun mode of transportation!    Talk about teamwork and creativity – the perfect elements for an effective meeting. 

Let's take it one step further.  Alexander Kjerulf, one of the world's leading experts on happiness in the workplace is on a world-wide crusade to educate companies on the benefits of working in exciting, unique, and ENJOYABLE physical spaces.  Click Here to check out some of his inspirations.  These companies are taking the “conference bike” to a whole new level.

Show these ideas to your boss and see how willing she is to replace cubicles, tables, and chairs with tiwsty slides, colorful tunnels, and bouncy trampolines.  Even if she's opposed, I'm sure she'll get a kick out of it. 

Looking for other creative ideas for your company? Check out our library of soft-skills training. You'll never know what you may come across...