09 Jan How Do You Make Real Progress?
At what point in January do we stop bidding each other Happy New Year, or talking about resolutions? I believe both of these start to drop off right around mid-month, judging from my ability to access my favorite elliptical machine at the gym.
Either way, there are reasons why sticking to our goals can be challenging, and as someone who has a high performance team and knows how to GSD (that is, get s*** done), I want to talk about goals and how you can make real progress this year.
Whether you’re answering to clients, board members, or just holding yourself accountable, writing things down helps you stay clear on your next steps – even when things don’t go as planned. It’s not just about sticking to a process = it’s about knowing what to do when you feel stuck.
A lot of times, when you put it all down on paper or review your training videos, you might realize, “Oh, that animal wasn’t being stubborn – they were just really confused.” Seeing the behavior from a different perspective can make all the difference.
For example, let’s say the big goal for our Great Horned Owl is to participate in an off-site program in March. I need to break that down into all the smaller steps that lead up to that event. Here’s how I approach it:
Breaking Down Big Goals into Manageable Steps
Instead of just focusing on the final goal (taking him off-site), I reverse-engineer the process. I work backward from the final outcome and list the key skills he needs to succeed.
Here’s what that looked like for the owl:
- Practice Off-Site: Before he’s ready for a real event, he needs practice runs in new locations.
- Car Travel: He must be comfortable with getting into a crate and traveling by car.
- Small Audience Work: To get him ready for larger crowds, we need to start with smaller audiences in controlled environments.
- Crating in New Spaces: Voluntarily stepping into a crate in different locations is a crucial step.
The Power of Mini-Behaviors
The secret to real progress? Break down even those intermediate steps into smaller, reinforceable behaviors. For example, before he was ready to crate in a new location, we focused on simple things like:
- Stepping onto and off a training table confidently.
- Moving his feet toward the crate without hesitation.
- Even just looking toward the crate with interest.
When we focus on those little wins, they build up to something bigger. The more behaviors you can reinforce, the faster you’ll reach that big, shiny goal.
What to Do When Your Bird “Makes Excuses”
Sometimes, birds seem to “make excuses” – they look away, they focus on distractions, or they freeze. Often, this is their way of saying, “I’m uncertain, and I’m not sure what to do next.” That’s where we need to shift gears and ask:
- Is there too much going on in the environment?
- Is the task broken down enough?
- Am I reinforcing even the smallest signs of progress?
For example, our Great Horned Owl had days when turkey vultures were migrating overhead, or the local Great Horned Owls were calling during mating season, making him more alert and distracted. On those days, I adjusted my expectations and focused on reinforcing any calm behavior, even if it was just standing quietly near the crate.
Focus on Progress, Not Perfection
When we break down the training process into small, achievable steps, we prevent frustration for both ourselves and our birds. The next time your bird seems stuck, ask yourself:
- What is one small, reinforceable action they can take right now?
- Am I paying attention to environmental factors that could be affecting their focus?
Goal setting isn’t about rushing to the finish line – it’s about creating a pathway where every small step counts. And remember, reviewing your sessions – whether through notes or video – can give you new insights you didn’t catch in the moment.
Here’s to making 2025 a year of progress for you and your birds!