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After the first six weeks of a new year, initiatives, goals, and action plans can start to drift. You may also notice a piling on as the aftermath of those new year actions leave an observable debris field.

All of these are normal.

And it does put you at a decision point.

Will you allow the drift and the piling on to continue through the rest of the quarter, or will you do a mid-quarter reset?

One will leave you frustrated and defeated. The other could help you win the quarter, even though it looks impossible now.

The Reset

Rest

If you are sensing a sudden apathy for the goals that previously energized you and your team, it is very possible that you and they simply need to rest. Now, while sleeping in the workplace is generally frowned upon, there are ways you can rest now in order to restore your energy for the rest of the quarter.

You can physically rest by going to bed earlier in the evening or taking a weekend nap. You may choose to take a lunch break that you would normally skip. You can do something purposeful that re-energizes you, like taking a walk or spending a little extra time on your favorite hobby.

Engage

With the intense focus on “doing” that comes with the first few weeks of the year, you may have unintentionally allowed your relationships to slide. Take some time to re-engage with your friends, family, and community. Chances are, they have been busy, too. Reconnecting and communicating with those who matter most to you is both essential and energizing.

Sort

Just like the paper piles on your desk or the inbox overload, your mind can accumulate a lot of clutter in these first few intense weeks of the year. Take some time to sort your papers and clear your inbox, and you may just find your mind is clearer, too.

Be sure to write down all the random thoughts you are having. Writing them down separately, each on a 3×5 card, will allow you to sort them and prioritize.

Evaluate

Let’s face it. Some initiatives that were important six weeks ago no longer hold priority. Perhaps it was an idea that, once vetted, proved to be non-viable. Or it could be that a greater opportunity has risen and shifting focus to that is the higher priority. Evaluating priorities for the next half of the quarter is important for addressing the highest priorities. It is okay to table a goal or to close it out altogether, rather than waste your team’s time and energy finishing something “just because” it was a quarterly goal.

Throw out bad plays to make room for the better ones.

Team

Refreshed and with a clean slate, consider also your team. Have you clearly communicated the changes? How can you set them up for success for the rest of the quarter? What information and tools will they need for the final weeks of the quarter?

What you do now will determine your success for the quarter. Reset now so you can move forward with renewed focus and intention.

For valuable resources on Leadership Strengths and Tools, click here.

Deb Ingino is a highly sought-after executive coach, mentor, consultant, and speaker worldwide. Deb is well versed in business operations and in the importance of asking key questions most business leaders won’t ask themselves. She brings deep experience in leadership development, strategy, high performance team building and effective communication. She has a passion for leading people to discover and maximize their strengths as well as those of fellow team members, while offering advanced strategies to achieve high performance. Deb is the perfect fit if you’re ready to take your leadership and impact to the next level!