It’s March. How are your New Year’s Resolutions coming along?

Are you following through? If so, good for you! That places you within a very small club of people who make “it” happen. To stay in it this far, you probably (knowingly or not) did certain things differently than those who haven’t followed through.

If you aren’t following through, don’t beat yourself up over it. Instead, ask yourself, “What kept me from following through”? Use this as an opportunity to learn about yourself and discover what you need to follow through in the future.

The Follow Through Filter

In my experience, the ability to follow through is the single largest differentiator of success for leaders and organizations. More than anything else, it is what filters out those who grow and build and those who don’t.

I have watched leaders who were given every advantage possible, but they lacked internal stick-to-itiveness. They avoid commitments or setting specific goals. They find excuses. They don’t make things happen. They avoid accountability.

They don’t experience growth.

There are tons of reasons why people do this. Some of which are very understandable. But do you want ‘reasons’ to dictate your life? Or do you want to be able to become your best self? Building the best organization that you can?

Because there are reasons to do those things too. Which reasons are the louder voice in your ear?

Big success is built out of consistent, little ‘follow-throughs.’

I work with clients who come from an incredibly wide range of backgrounds and experiences. It’s a truism: Success comes to those who follow through. Barring (but often even including) an unforeseen disaster, the ones who grow and build are the ones who:

• Are self-disciplined and consistent with follow-through.
• Build cultures where follow-through is the norm.

Clients who struggle to gain traction or make progress also struggle to follow through. Or they do follow through in some areas but not in others.

For example, it’s not uncommon for a leader to personally be very disciplined except when it comes to holding others accountable and creating a culture of accountability. This leader will happily (or resentfully) try to do everything themselves to avoid tough conversations.

Eventually, the lights come on for most. They begin to recognize the connection between their follow-through and success. The faster they do this, the faster they can ‘right the ship’ and make progress towards their goals.

Here are six tips that will help you follow through:

1. Clarify your goal and why it matters: The more precise you are and the more meaningful success is, the more likely you’ll pursue it.

2. Start small and grow: Often, the most value comes from small, consistent growth. It’s like fitness: Simple, repeatable lifestyle changes are more likely to stick over the long haul than a sudden crash diet or exercise plan.

3. Find, create, or hire accountability: Tell others about your goal. Especially people you respect and don’t want to disappoint. If your goal is valuable enough, it is worth ensuring its success. Even though I’m a coach, I perform better if I have a coach too.

4. Learn to accept input from others: If what you are doing now isn’t accomplishing what you want – don’t try harder at what isn’t working. Listen to what others have to offer.

5. Be experimental: We often don’t know how to grow or what will work. It can take time to figure it out. Structure your pursuit of goals like experiments: “Let’s follow this approach to meet the goal for 90 days. Then we’ll reevaluate and adjust if needed.”

6. Practice this in other areas: As you improve your ability to follow through in one area, apply these principles to another area of life. Begin to see yourself as someone who does follow through. Learn to believe in yourself when you say you’ll do something.

Show up and do the work.

Growth, positive change, success…whatever you want to achieve this year won’t come from hoping hard. It’s not a secret. It’s just a truth that many avoid: Follow-through is the difference.

Follow-through is the difference at the gym. It’s the difference at home. It’s the difference at work.

There are a million fads, hacks, and shortcuts. Many of which sell very well. None of which work as well as just showing up and doing the work.

Don’t give up. You can do it. Eventually, you’ll be on the other side of this challenge or goal – and you’ll be grateful you kept going.

Take good care,

Christian

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