When I set out to start my novel, I just wanted to write every day. That’s a start, but it left ambiguity. How many words equals a good day? My ADHD/OCD brain needs black and white.
See, before you can celebrate the small wins, you first need to define what winning looks like.
Settling on 10-minutes or 250 words gave me a goal post. I can walk away from my laptop happy. I average 619 words. I always go over, but never under.
It applies to everything. In sales, all reps know they need to prospect more. But what’s a small win worth celebrating and calling today a good day? For some it’s 100 calls, for some it’s one quality conversation with a decision-maker.
In a recent coaching call I had someone ask about team meetings. They had just begun to implement a new structure and their team was giving their meetings a low score. I reminded them that any progress is a win. But I also urged them to define what a winning meeting looks like. Begin with the end in mind.
I coach 7-year-old flag football. The kids want to cut and juke and reverse field. It occurred to me that I never defined winning for them. I never articulated that getting five yards is huge. Now we can celebrate moving north and south together.
In my stay-at-home dad life, a good, present morning is a win. And if I don’t win the morning, I can try again in the afternoon.
Humans need that clarity. I crave it. Your team craves it. First, define the win, the celebrate.