Micro-goal setting in Business: A tool for Overcoming Resistance

Micro-goal setting in Business: A tool for overcoming Resistance

Resistance. We all have it around something. Or if you are like me, you might have it around many things. 

There are likely many tasks within our business which we love and can lost in for hours at a time.

And then.....there are the ones we avoid, postpone, unconsciously forget about, and convince ourselves we will get to at some point. 

My inner critic likes to tell me I am not doing a good enough job on social media because I don't have a tik-tok or make snappy videos on Instagram. 

Or get on me about how the SEO on my websites aren't good enough.

Or, tell me that the copy on my psychology today listing is not good enough and needs a revision.

And on and on and so forth. 

Does your inner critic spout off out nasty comments about your "Enough-ness" as a business owner because you are not doing all the things?

No? I applaud you, and I might feel slightly envious. Seriously though, that is awesome! 

Above is the garbage my inner critic would try to convince me to believe. 

I would quickly find myself feeling paralyzed and unable to take any action at all. The exact opposite of what would be helpful in that moment.

There will never be a time when we get everything done in our business. 

That task list that we love to check off - it doesn't end. It is forever evolving and changing. 

It is like progress notes. As soon as one is done another is in need of completion. 

I have found that I am highly resistant to the redundant type tasks in the business. 

Tasks I don't feel knowledgeable in or which require me to research and watch how to videos to complete are met with MASSIVE RESISTANCE. I have been working on a CRM website for my continuing education course offerings for a couple of years now. It only went live this fall. 

And yet, I persist. And you can, too. 

I have two approaches to help me attack the tasks when I feel stuck. 

The first is adjust my mindset. Here are 4phrases that help me push forward:

• There is more than enough time to get everything done that needs to get done. 
• Things will get done in the time it takes them to get done. 
• Done is better than perfect. 
• I don't have to get it all done today/right now/this moment.

Next, I identify and complete a micro-goal to take action on right now. 

I define a micro-goal as:

• A task I can complete in under 5 minutes. 
• A task that I can do even if the voice in my head is telling me I can't. 
• A task that by doing it helps build momentum towards completion of the larger goal. 
• The one task which by doing it will make everything else easier. (There is a great book called The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan on this topic)

Okay, as therapists we might refer to these as objectives.

Micro-goal feels more approachable. Perhaps because it is less clinical?

Completing the micro-goal helps reinforce the sense that this large goal can be accomplished and helps me get started. 

Rome wasn't built in a day, as they say. It is unreasonable to expect we will be able to get all the things we want done for our business right away, especially when we spend a full week seeing clients. 

Go easy on yourselves fellow practice builders. Take one micro-step at a time and watch it come to be. 

If you are struggling with figuring out how to prioritize what needs to be done in your business, find yourself getting overwhelmed by it all, or just need some support building systems to help you get in flow, I offer consultations to help. Send an email and let's talk.