So what does it take to sustain transformation
We all have high energy at the beginning and during a transformation. It is quite common for people to be excited about a new initiative, change or transformation, only to see that interest wane over the coming months. Are there any easy answers or quick-fix solutions? No!! However, putting some structures in place can provide the required support in sustaining transformation and continue with one’s ongoing development.
- Personal Leadership - Personal leadership is a very important aspect along with focus and single mindedness to sustain transformation. You need to have the passion and resources to sustain transformation and ongoing development. And feel empowered to influence others around you to transform and lead a better life.
- Stakeholders – Along with your personal leadership and commitment you need to have stakeholders. Stakeholders who can hold you accountable in continuing with your transformational journey, stakeholders who know what support he or she can provide you in your journey and what you expect from them throughout your transformational journey or life. The stakeholder should know what milestones, goals and objectives you have and by when you will meet them and help you going in your journey. The stakeholders can be your near and dear ones, a mentor or a life coach.
- Beware of change in purpose or objective - Many a times we add new things to the end goal, or increase the scope of our purpose and objectives and forget to reflect on what this change or addition means and what extra will it take for us to achieve this new purpose or goal. Note that – It’s fine to change the desired state as you continue on your transformational journey but don’t forget to - Reexamine resources, update your stakeholders, ensure your commitment to the new purpose, be fully aware of what it means and take meaningful action and sustain..
- Speed - Determine how fast you can take actions with a high level of commitment. Sometimes, the initial change or transformation dies simply because of delay, procrastination and lack of action taking. You don’t have to wait for everything to be in place, everything to be perfect as in a changing and evolving environment this will not happen. Meaningful action in the right direct is required to build the momentum and the desire going.
- Ownership. Ensure that there is sufficient ownership and commitment in the transformed and new you. Ask yourself, are you passionate about the new found you, your desired state, do you have the right support and structure for you to take the initial Actions through to gaining momentum? If the answer is no, you need to spend more time getting clarity, generating more awareness, reflecting that your set desired goal is what you want to ‘DO’ and not what you want to ‘TRY’ and get the required support for Initial Actions.
- Resources - Are adequate resources committed to ensuring your transformational journey in a sustained manner? Resources might include sufficient budget, time, building new skills, training, building and developing your network. A critical resource is time and attention. Can you and will you dedicate sufficient time to sustain your transformation? Patience is very important as well. Do you expect to fail (miss some milestones) – If Yes – what mitigation plans to continue on your sustained transformation. Are you prepared to fail? What happens if you fail – Are you prepared to be in the valley or learning and discovering – then recommit yourself, take action and continue on your transformational journey.
- Rewards - How will you reward yourself when you hit your milestones? How will you acknowledge yourself?
- SMART goals – Any journey needs milestones and goals. When we talk about transformation we are talking about the BIG purpose in one’s life – The BIG Desired state. How do you ensure that you are getting there? For this you need to have smaller milestones and goals throughout the journey – This way you are always aware of the progress, where and when you are off track and how to get back on track. Set Specific Measurable Attainable Realist and Time bound milestones and goals.
Let us build on our case
You have given up smoking, you have made a change, you are transformed and you are committed to living a better and healthy life. And you want to ensure that you don’t give up and get back into the bad habit again – What can you do to sustain this transformation. Sustaining Transformation and Ongoing Development
- Personal Leadership – You are highly committed and this commitment is internal.
- Stakeholders – You are aware that this bad habit just does not affect you but also affects other around you. Your family, friends and well wishers. They can be your stakeholders. And you continue to keep your life coach in the loop. Talk to him / her once and month, keep him/her posted on the progress.
- Beware of change in purpose or objective – You have given up smoking and with this transformation you want to give up another unhealthy habit (let’s say consuming alcohol). You should create awareness about what it will take to give up consuming alcohol. Can you start on this now? Are you ready? What do you need to be successful? Etc…
- Speed – Take actions – If you have the urge to smoke. Which can happen if you are around smokers (friends and collogues who smoke). What is the quick action you will take to not giving to your urge – Power to say NO to self and others. Reflect quickly on why did you have this urge and what do you need to do to overcome this in a way that you don’t have this feeling the next time or ever again.