A New Year: 6 Steps to Reflect and Set Intentions
November marked the one-year anniversary of my new business, and I felt that I had not accomplished much. I needed to slow down so I could create time and space to reflect on the year and the goals I had set for myself in 2022.
As we get older, it’s often much harder for us to notice the changes we experience in our lives each year. When we see a young child turning a year older, their growth and milestones are far more obvious for us to witness. However, there comes a time in life when we feel things are not changing much at all—or at least, not always in an exciting way.
In daily life's hustle, we often run on autopilot, not noticing or celebrating any new achievements or abilities. But science tells us we need to stop and smell those roses—and this rings true for individuals as well as organizations. This is why, even in the midst of the holiday bustle, it’s so important to take the time to reflect on the year that’s passed and set some new goals based on what we see. No need to wait for New Year’s resolutions—why not take a break for yourself amid the merrymaking chaos and get a head start on setting some good intentions?
The science of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) includes a subfield known as Organizational Behavior Management (OBM), which focuses on aligning goals with desired outcomes. With this framework, we utilize positive reinforcement to drive desired behaviors. We also use Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to identify the completion of our goals using observable and measurable metrics.
To change a behavior in a positive way, we must first understand what the baseline or current level of behavior is. For instance, businesses may assess their quarterly sales or monthly employee retention rates. In our personal lives, we might gauge the number of meaningful vacations taken annually or the pounds lost through personal fitness endeavors. Once we know our baseline, it allows us to create a goal to work towards. To make the most achievable goals for ourselves, it is important to keep them clear and specific.
If we’re looking to change a behavior, we must also understand why it is occurring—what is the function of the behavior? Behavior Analysts help identify the reasons why a behavior occurs and then can match interventions that will begin to target, shape, and change the behavior. Effective interventions are only successful through systematic data collection and regular check-in times for progress review.
If this sounds like something you’d like to try, here are some simple steps for you to follow:
Assess your needs: What do you want to achieve or accomplish? Take time and get specific.
Collect baseline data: What does your behavior currently look like? Where is it hitting the mark, and where could it use improvement?
Identify the need: What are the KPIs you want to aim for? Be sure to define them in objective and measurable terms.
Understand the why: Knowing the function of the behavior will tell us how we can respond to it.
Intervene: Come up with two or three small ways to begin to modify your environment. Use positive reinforcement to shape your new behavior.
Measure: Reflect and assess your progress at a determined future date (the end of the year is a perfect time but should not be the only time)
Over the last few weeks, I completed the one-year reflection on my business. While I had some initial trepidation, feeling like I hadn’t achieved enough, I was pleasantly surprised to see how many of my goals I had met. It was very reinforcing to begin checking them off the list.
Now it’s your turn: what goals have you achieved this year? What new ones would you like to set for the coming year? Give this a try and share.
(If you are seeking some help getting clarity on your goals, reach out to a fellow Behavior Analyst and Forum contributor, Kevin Koo.)
