Try, try again

I have been working with some awesome people lately across a few different clients. I typically work with Executives and Risk teams, bringing my experience and capacity to risky problems in their business, helping them move the dial somehow on their risk maturity objectives. As an onlooker, I watch them enter our online meetings, often needing a minute or two to take a breath from the back-to-back meetings.

I remember that feeling, when I was an in-house Head of Risk. The constant stream of meetings left no time to think. I watch my clients and remember how I felt preparing for the next tidal wave of Committee or Board meetings, helping colleagues navigate risk and governance matters, interpreting guidance or questions from regulators, finding areas of confusion or inefficiency in processes, finding time to really lead my team, and wondering when I will get the chance to finish anything (properly)?

Luke (remember him, the PT with the quotes) always helps me focus on a goal, then set in place regular, repeated training. Make it a habit everyday to do something little, and you will get to your goal before you even know it. Persistence pays off.

And with my clients, I try to do the same. What's the goal? Improve the way you report on risk - and the so what of risk - to your Board? Get clear on accountabilities? Build sensible operational risk and resilience practices into your business? These are all big "risk" goals, big "business" goals to be honest ... but to really deliver something great, you need to set in place proactive, considered plans.

Dedicate time every day to them. Inch towards your goal. Through that, you and your team, will deliver. But don't make the time, and you don't get the time to put your mind to that goal. My only advice - and as I write this I also am speaking to myself - if you want to deliver something great at the end of the day, make a plan, clear the space in your diary to make it happen, and never give up. And to my clients, you know I am a bit of a tough coach some days, but it's because I believe you can achieve your goals too!

I am keen to hear of a time when you realised you were not making the time for a goal at work that you knew was important. What did you do, how did you change your ways to make that goal a reality?