WEBVTT 1 00:00:18.745 --> 00:00:20.845 Hey, it's Rachel Cook, your modern mentor. 2 00:00:21.425 --> 00:00:23.965 I'm the founder of Lead Above Noise, where we help leaders 3 00:00:24.485 --> 00:00:26.765 activate performance and engagement without burning out. 4 00:00:27.265 --> 00:00:30.645 We run bootcamps that deliver confidence tools, community. 5 00:00:30.985 --> 00:00:32.965 We deliver keynotes that inform and inspire, 6 00:00:33.225 --> 00:00:36.085 and we do pulse checks to help you build custom blueprints 7 00:00:36.085 --> 00:00:38.365 that unlock your team's best performance. 8 00:00:38.715 --> 00:00:39.925 Just let me know what you need. 9 00:00:40.725 --> 00:00:42.905 So as we start to roll into year end, 10 00:00:43.175 --> 00:00:46.505 this season always makes me think of my experience as a kid. 11 00:00:47.125 --> 00:00:49.385 Adults around me were always paddling on about 12 00:00:49.385 --> 00:00:51.905 how shocking it was that yet another year was wrapping up. 13 00:00:52.315 --> 00:00:55.705 Those were the years when about 17 years seemed to pass 14 00:00:55.815 --> 00:00:56.985 between each birthday, 15 00:00:57.805 --> 00:01:01.025 and now here I am the elder paddling on. 16 00:01:01.565 --> 00:01:04.305 But here we are on the precipice of 17 00:01:04.365 --> 00:01:06.385 yet another year closing with a new one. 18 00:01:06.505 --> 00:01:07.865 Looming for me, 19 00:01:07.965 --> 00:01:11.025 and I know for many this season, triggers an instinct 20 00:01:11.085 --> 00:01:12.665 to reflect, to plan, 21 00:01:12.685 --> 00:01:14.985 and to start something big from a clean slate. 22 00:01:15.565 --> 00:01:18.145 And I'm all for it, but what I am not really 23 00:01:18.205 --> 00:01:19.625 for is resolutions. 24 00:01:20.095 --> 00:01:22.865 I've talked about it before, big promises that we make 25 00:01:22.885 --> 00:01:24.745 to ourselves in spite of all the data 26 00:01:24.745 --> 00:01:26.905 that preaches extraordinary rates of failure. 27 00:01:27.875 --> 00:01:29.235 I just think we deserve better than that. 28 00:01:29.895 --> 00:01:31.715 I'd rather set myself up for success. 29 00:01:32.275 --> 00:01:33.315 I want something to celebrate. 30 00:01:34.015 --> 00:01:37.155 So today, let's talk about taking an anti resolution 31 00:01:37.355 --> 00:01:38.995 approach to kicking off the new year. 32 00:01:39.695 --> 00:01:41.675 And hey, even if you're listening off season, 33 00:01:42.275 --> 00:01:43.515 I promise there's intel in 34 00:01:43.515 --> 00:01:45.075 here, whatever the month you're in. 35 00:01:45.895 --> 00:01:49.435 So instead of a resolution, start with an experiment. 36 00:01:50.015 --> 00:01:51.395 Here's where we flip the script. 37 00:01:52.025 --> 00:01:54.955 Instead of setting a giant intimidating resolution, 38 00:01:55.495 --> 00:01:57.755 try committing to just a single experiment. 39 00:01:58.505 --> 00:02:00.395 This is a short term focused. 40 00:02:00.775 --> 00:02:03.275 An experiment is short term and focused. 41 00:02:03.705 --> 00:02:05.955 It's designed to test one idea at a time. 42 00:02:06.335 --> 00:02:09.155 The goal isn't to overhaul your life or your work overnight, 43 00:02:09.255 --> 00:02:11.915 but to gather insights that help you move forward. 44 00:02:12.375 --> 00:02:14.635 Here's how you might design a workplace experiment. 45 00:02:15.615 --> 00:02:17.715 Define a question you wanna answer, like, 46 00:02:17.985 --> 00:02:20.035 what would happen if I started contributing one 47 00:02:20.035 --> 00:02:21.195 idea in every team meeting? 48 00:02:21.865 --> 00:02:24.315 Then set a timeframe. Keep it short. 49 00:02:24.455 --> 00:02:26.395 Two weeks to a month is usually plenty of time 50 00:02:26.535 --> 00:02:27.755 to get you some meaningful data. 51 00:02:28.525 --> 00:02:30.795 Track your results after each meeting. 52 00:02:31.095 --> 00:02:32.635 Jot down what worked, what didn't, 53 00:02:32.655 --> 00:02:36.075 and what feedback you got, and then evaluate and adjust. 54 00:02:36.615 --> 00:02:37.915 At the end of the experiment, 55 00:02:38.295 --> 00:02:40.235 ask yourself, did this make an impact? 56 00:02:40.695 --> 00:02:43.155 How might I refine or scale this effort moving forward? 57 00:02:43.855 --> 00:02:47.555 So maybe you wanna get better at public speaking instead 58 00:02:47.555 --> 00:02:49.595 of a resolution, like become a 59 00:02:49.595 --> 00:02:50.955 confident speaker by the end of the year. 60 00:02:51.455 --> 00:02:52.795 Try designing an experiment. 61 00:02:53.285 --> 00:02:54.515 Maybe your question is, 62 00:02:54.665 --> 00:02:57.155 what happens if I rehearse a short update out loud 63 00:02:57.295 --> 00:02:59.075 before every meeting for the next two weeks? 64 00:02:59.090 --> 00:03:00.885 Weeks? Your timeframe is two weeks, 65 00:03:01.305 --> 00:03:02.885 and your outcome to track is, 66 00:03:03.065 --> 00:03:04.805 do I feel more confident in meetings? 67 00:03:05.065 --> 00:03:07.165 Am I receiving clearer follow-up questions 68 00:03:07.165 --> 00:03:09.365 or feedback experiments like these? 69 00:03:09.365 --> 00:03:11.605 Take the pressure off and they give you actionable 70 00:03:11.845 --> 00:03:13.245 insights to guide your next steps. 71 00:03:14.435 --> 00:03:17.365 Next, focus on systems over goals. 72 00:03:18.015 --> 00:03:19.765 Goals are great for setting direction, 73 00:03:19.865 --> 00:03:21.845 but not so much for guiding action. 74 00:03:22.505 --> 00:03:23.885 You can't control the outcome, 75 00:03:24.225 --> 00:03:26.645 but you can control the system you use to get there. 76 00:03:27.305 --> 00:03:30.685 So instead of setting a goal like I wanna land a promotion, 77 00:03:31.095 --> 00:03:34.125 focus on systems like tracking your wins weekly 78 00:03:34.265 --> 00:03:35.645 so you have evidence of your impact 79 00:03:35.745 --> 00:03:37.365 to talk about in an interview 80 00:03:37.865 --> 00:03:40.245 and setting up regular feedback sessions with your leader 81 00:03:40.945 --> 00:03:43.365 and practicing your negotiation skills ahead 82 00:03:43.365 --> 00:03:44.645 of promotion conversations. 83 00:03:45.445 --> 00:03:47.565 A system is something that you can do consistently 84 00:03:48.125 --> 00:03:49.405 regardless of whether the end result 85 00:03:49.405 --> 00:03:50.565 happens on your timeline. 86 00:03:50.905 --> 00:03:53.805 And when you focus on systems, the outcomes tend 87 00:03:53.805 --> 00:03:54.965 to take care of themselves. 88 00:03:58.865 --> 00:04:00.675 Next, build a personal scorecard. 89 00:04:01.005 --> 00:04:02.355 Let's talk about staying on track 90 00:04:02.505 --> 00:04:05.155 because even the best systems can fizzle out if 91 00:04:05.155 --> 00:04:06.235 we don't check in with them. 92 00:04:06.745 --> 00:04:09.195 This is where a personal scorecard becomes helpful. 93 00:04:09.705 --> 00:04:12.195 It's a simple tool to help you track your consistency 94 00:04:12.255 --> 00:04:13.555 and celebrate your progress. 95 00:04:13.895 --> 00:04:15.315 Here's how you can set one up. 96 00:04:15.805 --> 00:04:17.315 Start by writing down your systems. 97 00:04:18.055 --> 00:04:20.955 So maybe you wanna do weekly check-ins with your manager. 98 00:04:21.375 --> 00:04:24.075 You wanna send one or two networking messages a week, 99 00:04:24.415 --> 00:04:26.515 and you wanna dedicate 20 minutes each 100 00:04:26.515 --> 00:04:27.635 day to learning a new skill. 101 00:04:28.185 --> 00:04:31.075 Then track your actions At the end of each week, 102 00:04:31.185 --> 00:04:32.315 give yourself a score. 103 00:04:32.895 --> 00:04:35.515 Did you follow through? And if not, what got in the way? 104 00:04:36.135 --> 00:04:38.795 And finally, celebrate progress, not perfection. 105 00:04:39.265 --> 00:04:41.075 It's okay if you miss a few here or there. 106 00:04:41.465 --> 00:04:43.675 Just notice the patterns and adjust as needed. 107 00:04:44.435 --> 00:04:46.195 A scorecard helps keep you accountable 108 00:04:46.205 --> 00:04:47.555 while giving you space to adapt. 109 00:04:48.745 --> 00:04:51.395 Next, see everything as data. 110 00:04:52.255 --> 00:04:55.115 So if we're honest, no system is going to be perfect. 111 00:04:55.535 --> 00:04:57.275 You'll skip a day, you'll miss a target. 112 00:04:57.495 --> 00:04:59.075 You'll have a week where everything goes 113 00:04:59.395 --> 00:05:00.555 sideways and that's normal. 114 00:05:01.295 --> 00:05:02.715 But instead of treating those moments 115 00:05:02.775 --> 00:05:04.635 as failures, treat them as data. 116 00:05:05.415 --> 00:05:09.195 Ask yourself what got in the way? Was the system realistic? 117 00:05:09.735 --> 00:05:11.235 Is there a tweak that I could make 118 00:05:11.265 --> 00:05:13.315 that might make this easier to follow through on? 119 00:05:13.895 --> 00:05:16.355 For example, if you are looking to block time for deep work, 120 00:05:16.415 --> 00:05:17.835 but you keep getting interrupted, 121 00:05:18.125 --> 00:05:19.835 maybe the problem isn't your schedule, 122 00:05:20.215 --> 00:05:22.035 but the lack of boundaries with your team. 123 00:05:22.615 --> 00:05:25.795 So use that insight to experiment with a focus time policy 124 00:05:25.975 --> 00:05:27.515 or a status update 125 00:05:27.515 --> 00:05:29.715 to let colleagues know when you're really unavailable, 126 00:05:30.675 --> 00:05:32.995 whatever the result you got, it's just feedback. 127 00:05:33.185 --> 00:05:35.315 It's there to teach you. And finally, 128 00:05:35.925 --> 00:05:36.955 check in with yourself. 129 00:05:37.765 --> 00:05:39.275 Let's talk about keeping your systems 130 00:05:39.795 --> 00:05:40.795 relevant throughout the year. 131 00:05:41.475 --> 00:05:43.595 I recommend scheduling quarterly check-ins with yourself 132 00:05:43.595 --> 00:05:45.235 to reflect and realign. 133 00:05:45.655 --> 00:05:46.875 Here's how I like to do it. 134 00:05:47.555 --> 00:05:50.715 I block time on my calendar at the end of March, june, 135 00:05:51.155 --> 00:05:54.475 September, and December, and here are some prompts I like 136 00:05:54.475 --> 00:05:56.475 to use to guide my own reflection. 137 00:05:57.305 --> 00:05:58.915 What systems are working well? 138 00:05:59.495 --> 00:06:02.795 What's delivering the impact that I expected and what isn't? 139 00:06:03.295 --> 00:06:06.075 And what adjustments or new experiments can I try next? 140 00:06:06.765 --> 00:06:09.875 Think of these check-ins as pit stops, not 141 00:06:09.875 --> 00:06:12.795 to change direction completely, but to refine and refocus 142 00:06:13.015 --> 00:06:14.795 and make sure the systems you put in 143 00:06:14.795 --> 00:06:16.275 place are still serving you. 144 00:06:17.795 --> 00:06:19.995 I hope there was something helpful in here for you 145 00:06:20.455 --> 00:06:23.115 and I wish you an amazing setup for the new year. 146 00:06:23.545 --> 00:06:25.555 Join me next week for another great episode. 147 00:06:25.925 --> 00:06:28.675 Until then, visit my website@leadabovenoise.com. 148 00:06:28.935 --> 00:06:30.875 If your workplace could use an activation boost, 149 00:06:30.875 --> 00:06:32.635 whether it's a bootcamp, a keynote, 150 00:06:32.695 --> 00:06:35.995 or a pulse check, you can follow Modern Mentor on Apple 151 00:06:36.075 --> 00:06:38.995 Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. 152 00:06:39.255 --> 00:06:41.995 Thanks so much for listening and have a successful week. 153 00:06:42.495 --> 00:06:44.635 Modern Mentor is a quick and Dirty Tips podcast. 154 00:06:45.225 --> 00:06:47.075 It's audio engineered by Dan Fand. 155 00:06:47.455 --> 00:06:49.515 Our director of podcasts is Brandon Getches. 156 00:06:50.015 --> 00:06:52.235 Our podcast and advertising operations specialist 157 00:06:52.235 --> 00:06:53.515 is Morgan Christiansen. 158 00:06:53.895 --> 00:06:56.315 Our digital operations specialist is Holly Hutchings. 159 00:06:56.535 --> 00:06:59.075 Our marketing and publicity associate is Davina Tomlin, 160 00:06:59.375 --> 00:07:01.555 and our marketing contractor is Nathaniel Hoops.