ITS

The Five Steps

The 5 Steps to successful NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS AND GOAL SETTING
Many New Year Resolutions last just a few days – but there are ways of setting goals and
making resolutions that mean you are far more likely to succeed in achieving them.
ITS Director of Training, Ian McDermott has these five top tips for setting successful
New Year Resolutions. Each makes a huge difference. If you want to learn how to
become good at using these techniques, follow the five ‘how to’ tips.



1. GET CLEAR ABOUT PRECISELY WHAT YOU WANT – NOT WHAT YOU
DON’T WANT.



Many people set New Year Resolutions such as “I don’t want to be so fat” or “I don’t
want to smoke anymore.” But these resolutions are focusing on what you don’t want -
not what you do want. If someone says to you “Don’t think of a red aeroplane” you have
to imagine a red plane for your brain to process the idea. So a resolution such as “I want
to stop eating chocolate” simply leads you back to the thought of chocolate. Your
resolution should be stated in the positive: eg “I want to improve my health by eating
fruit when I’m hungry and jogging for half an hour, three times a week.”
How to tips: Start thinking in terms of what you want, not what you don’t want. This is
step one in taking control of your brain. Learning how to formulate what you’re striving
towards is vital.



2. BE SPECIFIC – NOT VAGUE



“I want to be thinner” may be a great idea but it is somewhat vague for a great New Year
Resolution. If you set this as a resolution, and then lost half a pound, your brain
may feel that you have achieved your goal – and it could then propel you back to the
chocolate! You need to be as clear and specific as possible. If necessary, also give yourself
clear deadlines. “I want to weigh 11 stone by 1 May” is a very specific goal and gives your
brain clear instructions.
How to tips: Being specific is a learnable skill. Too often we’re less than clear with
ourselves and others. The result is frequently disappointment or bad feeling. The set of
NLP tools known as the ‘Meta Model’ can change all this very quickly and easily. For
Business applications, see chapter four of Practical NLP for Managers.



3. MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE IN CONTROL OF MAKING THE
RESOLUTION HAPPEN



Sometimes, people make resolutions or set goals that depend on others doing certain
things or behaving in certain ways. This is a virtual guarantee of failure. You need to set
goals that you are in control of achieving. For example, a New Year Resolution of “I
want the boss to stop shouting at me” raises the very important question – What is it you
can do that will make your boss want to do something different? Until you’ve figured this
out you’re just hoping.
How to tips: As long as the focus of control is out there somewhere, you run the risk of
just waiting and hoping that others will give you what you want. This could mean you
waiting for a very long time! As soon as you start focusing on what YOU can do to make
others want to assist you, you begin to turn things around. Now you will be seeking ways
to become more influential. Whether you want to increase your influence, improve your
personal relationships or manage upwards, you will need to understand how people tick.
NLP offers you this knowledge.



4. MENTALLY REHEARSE ACHIEVING YOUR GOAL



Many athletes have been taught to visualise themselves winning, again and again. The
more you can give your brain a clear idea of what it is like to achieve your goal – the more
your brain will draw you towards that goal. So if you want to stop smoking, spend time
getting a clear picture of what your life will be like and how you will feel once you are
healthy and nicotine free. Visualise all the pleasurable aspects of achieving your New
Year Resolution again and again – soon the ‘new you’ will become irresistible.
How to tips: Spend a few minutes every day clearly imagining you achieving your goal.
Create a vivid picture in your mind of what this will be like and adjust the qualities of the
picture, such as size, brightness or colour to make it more compelling for you. Imagine
what you will say to yourself or others when you have achieved the goal and get a sense
of how good that feels. Repeat this process as often as necessary. It will give your brain a
clear idea of what you are committed to achieving.



5. IF YOU ARE CHANGING AN UNWANTED BEHAVIOUR, MAKE SURE
YOU UNDERSTAND THE BENEFITS THAT THE OLD BEHAVIOUR
GAVE YOU.



This is one of the most important aspects of creating change in our lives, yet it is also
often the most overlooked. If you have tried to change something in the past and haven’t
succeeded, one of the most likely reasons is that the old behaviour was giving you
benefits that your brain did not want to give up. For some people, smoking makes them
relaxed. For others, eating junk food gives them a feeling of comfort. The reason or
intention behind the behaviour is a good one, even if the behaviour itself is undesirable.
If you want your resolution to stick you need to find alternative ways of achieving the
benefit that the old behaviour gave you. So if smoking helps you relax, part of the
planning for your new healthy life should involve finding alternative and preferably more
enjoyable ways of relaxing.
How to tips: The secret of change management is keeping what works from the old
behaviour and taking that with you when you make a change. This is true whether we’re
talking about a multinational corporation or a change in your personal life. If you’re changing a behaviour simply ask yourself what the benefit was of the old behaviour.
Then ensure that this benefit is incorporated into your new goal.