CHARTing Your Year with Intention: From Annual Aims to Weekly Wins

January 15, 2025 | 625 Views

CHARTing Your Year with Intention: From Annual Aims to Weekly Wins

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Mastering productivity isn't about getting everything done—it's about prioritizing the right things. By adopting this three-pronged planning approach, you have a roadmap to productivity and alignment.

Establish a “Word of the Year” to Rally Your Team

Rachel Richal, CHT, VP of Training, Buffalo Wild Wings, Inspire BrandsA Word of the Year isn’t just a fad, it's a rallying cry. You can effectively set intention and motivate for the year by rallying around a single word.

This practice goes beyond traditional goal-setting methods, focusing instead on encapsulating the ethos and aspirations of the team in a single word. It helps you set expectations, prioritize, and even have fun doing it.

For Buffalo Wild Wings, our inaugural word of the year was "nimble." This word became much more than just a descriptor—it became a shared mindset that permeated the training team and our collaboration with other departments. It served as a foundation for adaptability in the face of challenges and change, it guided decision-making and prioritization throughout the year. It kept us focused and working toward the same results.

Word of the Year: Nimble

This approach is so simple and inclusive, that we have carried it forward to our team members. As a wing-driven sports bar, sauce is one of our foundational products. Every team member has their own sauce bottle, and they go through an exercise where they create their sauce title, their unique ingredients, and then set personal and professional goals. It's a really fun exercise that ties their own personal strengths and goals back to our Word of the Year.

With a Word of the Year, you have a beacon to help guide your team and foster resilience in the face of challenges.

Use the “Big Rocks” Framework for Quarterly Planning

Kate Stiteler, Corporate Director of Training, Sonesta HotelsThe Big Rocks framework, coined by productivity experts, recognizes that not all tasks are created equal. It helps identify the vital few priorities (Big Rocks) versus the trivial many (Gravel).

My team uses a simple, yet powerful, Time Management Matrix tool to categorizes goals and tasks by importance and urgency. Divided into four quadrants, the matrix helps distinguish between the Big Rocks (Q1 and Q2) that demand immediate attention and the Gravel that come our way every day (Q3 and Q4) that can be sidelined.

Quadrant #1: Here, we find the "quadrant of necessity or crisis," where tasks are both important and urgent. These are the fires that need extinguishing—the CEO's urgent request or unexpected emergencies.

Quadrant #2: In contrast, this quadrant houses the "quadrant of productivity or long-term goals," where important tasks can be planned and executed strategically.

Quadrant #3: Meanwhile, this represents the "quadrant of distraction," where tasks may seem urgent, but are ultimately unimportant. There is a danger of getting caught up in other people's emergencies or unnecessary meetings, which detract from high-value work.

Quadrant #4: Finally, this quadrant encompasses the "quadrant of waste," where tasks hold little to no importance and can be safely ignored.

Time Matrix

Every single quarter, we align our quarterly goals with Big Rocks. And every single week, my team meets together and talks about our Big Rocks for the week. Regular check-ins, both one-on-one with managers and team-wide meetings, provide opportunities to track progress, realign priorities, and celebrate successes.

By prioritizing Big Rocks and minimizing distractions, you can devote your team’s time and energy to purposeful tasks that drive meaningful results.

Create a “Weekly Flash Report” to Stay Focused

Kim Evans, Director of Training, Hopdoddy Burger BarThe Weekly Flash Report provides weekly objectives, projects, accomplishments, and lessons learned, allowing you to maintain a clear focus on your goals while navigating the day-to-day intricacies of your workload.

So, what exactly does the Weekly Flash Report entail? Let's break it down:

Active Objectives and Projects: Think of these as aligning with your Big Rocks, the big-ticket items that demand your attention and drive your overarching goals forward. By keeping these objectives front and center, you ensure that they remain a priority amidst the chaos of daily tasks.

Weekly Schedule: Past, present, and future—this section offers a snapshot of where you've been, where you are, and where you're headed. Whether it's juggling travel commitments or navigating important meetings, having a clear timeline helps you allocate your time and resources effectively.

Three Accomplishments from Last Week: Celebrate your wins, but make them count. These accomplishments should reflect meaningful progress towards your goals, rather than routine tasks. Remember, quality over quantity.

Three Objectives for This Week: Set clear milestones for the week ahead, focusing on tasks that will move the needle and bring you closer to your long-term objectives. Flexibility is key here—adjust as needed to accommodate shifting priorities.

Three Objectives for Next Week: Looking ahead ensures that you're always thinking strategically and staying ahead of the curve. Anticipate challenges, plan accordingly, and keep your momentum going.

Biggest Lesson from Last Week: Reflection is crucial for growth. Identify key takeaways from your experiences and use them to inform your future actions. Whether it's refining your time management skills or improving communication, there's always room for learning.

Weekly Flash

While the Weekly Flash Report provides a structured framework, it's important to adapt and iterate as needed. Whether you're facing unexpected challenges or seizing new opportunities, remain agile and responsive to change.

For optimal results, consistency is key. Make it a habit to fill out your Weekly Flash Report at the end of each week, setting yourself up for a productive start to the week ahead. And don't be afraid to customize the tool to suit your specific needs—after all, productivity is a personal journey.

You’ll find that the Weekly Flash Report isn't just about managing your workload—it's about fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement within your team. By sharing insights, celebrating successes, and supporting one another's growth, you'll not only win the week but set yourself up for long-term success.

Want to know more? This article is based on a previous CHART webinar, available on-demand at: https://www.chart.org/trainer-development-and-events/webinars/past-webinars.html?page=2

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