Today is a day of celebration…YEAH!! WooHoo! Yippee! Way to Go!
The reason: this is my 101st blog post.
Granted, in the world of blogging, that is not a huge accomplishment. After all, there are blogs that have been around for years and there are bloggers who post multiple time per day.
On the other hand, my posts appear three to four times per week, my blog has existed only about six months, and occasionally my blog features a guest post.
But I choose to celebrate reaching this milestone of 101 posts for three very important reasons:
1. Celebrations Matter. It doesn’t matter how big or small the accomplishment, it is important to celebrate progress and recognize those who made it possible. Too often we wait for the BIG project to be completed before we take a moment to recognize what has been achieved…effective credit union leaders regularly celebrate the small victories.
2. Milestones Motivate. When people have targets that measure their impacts, they tend to work toward those targets, setting short-term goals to help them achieve the ultimate goal. If we don’t help people see what their efforts lead to over time, it is hard to keep them focused on doing the things that lead to success…effective credit union leaders define milestones that allow everyone to recognize progress toward the long-term goal.
3. Momentum Multiplies. Once the first milestone in a project or activity is achieved, momentum develops and results are multiplied because what once seemed out of reach has been realized. Taking the next steps and pursuing the big goal suddenly becomes easier because the knowledge, skills, and attitudes have been created to support success in the endeavor…effective credit union leaders allow momentum to develop and that creates powerful impacts.
ACTION ADVICE: As you begin to look toward the second half of 2010 and consider what you want your credit union team to accomplish, make sure you define milestones and take time to celebrate accomplishments!
It’s Your Turn…One of things that makes posting entries on a blog interesting and enjoyable is learning about the experiences and insights of people who read the blog. If you can spare a couple of minutes, please post a comment and share your insights into the value of celebrating success. Got any creative ideas for how to do it in your credit union? How do you celebrate your personal successes? Share your thoughts and let us know…
