To some people, forward motion might simply mean the act of moving forward, or advancing to the next stage of your life, career, etc. But to a Franconian, this concept means much more. Forward motion is part of our six core values. It’s is a reason we strive to be better employees, co-workers and also a better version of ourselves.
At Franco, forward motion is how we improve our skills and grow as professionals to better serve our company and clients. Let’s explore how to incorporate this core value into your own work.
Further Defining Forward Motion
To a Franconian, forward motion means taking deliberate, adaptive and/or motivating actions that draw on our inner spirit and tenacity to achieve a relevant objective, goal or vision. Forward motion is how we dig deep to advance and achieve success in the work we do. Forward motion helps us grow through professional development and teamwork, which ultimately results in client (and personal!) success.
It can be difficult to know where to start, but having a goal to work toward is fundamental to kickstarting the concept of forward motion.
Franconians Moving Forward
Investing in yourself, which includes working for a company that invests in the development of its employees, is a key component of forward motion. Continue your personal professional development by gaining a certification or reading books. Carving out time to improve your skills, and being intentional about how you invest that time, will help you obtain the new skills needed to move forward in your career. At Franco, we encourage professional development by inspiring others to learn more about industries they are passionate about and by encouraging everyone to share new skills with the larger Franco team.
For example, our digital team recently participated in HubSpot’s World Certification Day, where each of our four team members chose a certification, watched several hours of videos over the course of one week and took an exam on the same day to receive their certifications.
Forward motion shines through in our client work by encouraging innovative and creative ideas. Holding a brainstorm session or scheduling time for industry research helps our team stay knowledgeable and create impactful results for our clients. At Franco, we take pride in our successes by sharing these results and learnings companywide.
Implementing Forward Motion
As previously mentioned, the first step to achieving forward motion is setting goals. What do you want to accomplish in the next three to six months, or the next year? What are the action items you need to do to achieve those goals? What support do you need from colleagues and leadership? Answering these questions will help you define the “why,” “how” and “what” so your forward motion plan is mapped out.
Now, it’s time to get to work! Don’t forget, you need to track your progress. Are you on track or off track to achieve those goals you outlined within your defined time period? Work with your manager for accountability and guidance if you hit some roadblocks.
Lastly, don’t forget to celebrate your results – even the small wins! Reflecting on goals after crossing the finish line will help you learn and improve for the future. It’s important to evaluate what went well and where you can improve on future forward motion quests. This is also where I get my forward motion for implementing the next goal I am going to crush.
Prioritizing your professional development and integrating forward motion into your work will provide benefits in both the short and long term.
