You would agree that the year 2020 was challenging and rather unexpected. I am pretty sure that you too pivoted at least some of your plans, whether personal, professional or business ones. I am pretty sure that you too have stretched yourself while keeping it all together. However, this is your year. It is time to take stock of 2020 prior transitioning to 2021.
Women’s Role in the Pandemic
BBC Reporter Nina Goswami writes about the success of female leadership during the pandemic both in leading nations and at corporates. Were you perhaps part of the success story? Did you lead people through the change by being caring and up-levelling communication? Was that just natural for you or did it perhaps take some extra effort? Read the article here.
Clair Cain Miller wrote in New York Times that “Compared with their fathers and grandfathers, this generation of men is much more involved at home — showing up at midday school events, coaching soccer and cooking dinner. Yet when the pandemic hit, it was largely mothers who took on the additional child care duties; became remote teachers; and, in large numbers, quit their jobs.”
I am highlighting this purely for the purpose of you being gentle to yourself while reviewing your 2020. Ask yourself whether you were part of the global backup plan? How was your work-life balance? Read the full article here.
My 2020 Review
My review of 2020 includes achievements, short-comings as well as unplanned or unintended outcomes.
I have achieved the following from my plan:
- Acquired a life coach and a nutrition advisor certifications
- Launched my online coaching services and pivoted my program to fit the pandemic
- Super served my coaching clients
- Got out of my comfort zone while putting my services out there in the digital world
- Cooked healthy meals and spent time with my family
But I fall short from the plan with the following:
- Business growth did not meet the targets
- I did not achieve my personal fitness goals
And yes, I have done stuff that was not in the plan at all…
- Pivoted my working hours while sharing home-office space and bandwidth with family and dealing with the endless cooking and chores
- Participated in a Portable Business Accelerator program
- Regular meditation, yoga and Zoom parties for sanity
As I celebrate the achievements and grunt over the short-comings I acknowledge the circumstances. Despite the pandemic I focused on business development and serving clients. Despite all the uncertainty and challenges that 2020 brought along, I kept (mostly) upbeat and energetic. I want to acknowledge that my support system, family and professional tribe, played an important role here too.
I think I did hold up to my intention for 2020, which was to inspire myself and others. I might choose another word to describe my intention as we transition to 2021.
How to Review Yours?
I would like to invite you to do this exercise too! This is your year. It is time to review your 2020 prior charting the way forward for 2021. Should you not have some sophisticated document or system in place, you may simply follow the steps below.
Step 1. Remind yourself of the intention and goals that you set for 2020. Not just the work ones but personal too. Look for the document (if you have) or just simply list them down. “My 2020 intention and goals were…”
Step 2. Write down what you have actually achieved in relation to the intentions and goals. Also identify and include everything else you did and achieved beyond the plans.
Step 3. Celebrate all your achievements!
Step 4. Review the things that did not happen, were not done nor fully achieved. Are they still relevant? If yes, are you going to include them in your 2021 plan? Do they need to be tweaked?
Step 5. What is your intention for 2021? Could you choose a word to describe it?
Way Forward
As you review your 2020 and start charting the way forward for 2021 remember that you do not need to do everything alone. I am onboarding 10 new clients from mid-January 2021. I help professional women in development impact sector in any work or life transition.
Should you be interested, visit my website here to learn more about my coaching for individuals and contact me for a FREE 30 min DISCOVERY CALL before 18th December 2020.
There-after, I will be practising what I preach – work-life balance by taking a two-week break.
Pauliina Mapatha has twenty years of experience in both the government and non-profit sectors and is a certified life coach. She established her own consultancy company in 2006 and has found her passion for supporting individuals and organisations with change, transformation and wellness.
To contact coach Pauliina click here.
