This Week in PCM : Retraining Your Algorithm

Algorithm – a process or set of rules to be followed in calculations or other problem-solving operations, especially by a computer.

I have hired a virtual assistant to handle my social media accounts because I admit that this has become overwhelming. I have so many and even with HootSuite, scheduling my own social media has been cumbersome. However, now I am free. There are two benefits in handing over my social media accounts to a professional. One benefit is direct while the other is indirect. Freedom is the direct benefit. Knowledge is the indirect benefit.

Yesterday I had our first weekly follow-up meeting with my virtual assistant. She said that we had to retrain my Facebook business page’s algorithm because I was posting too much. She recommended only posting 2-3 times a day on my Facebook business page else the social media platform would think that I am spamming. Her using the phrase ‘retaining my algorithm’ has gotten me thinking about how to apply this thinking in my personal and professional lives.

‘Retraining the algorithm’ means taking positive action steps towards reshaping your personal and professional lives. Here are my four steps towards retraining your algorithm:

• Admit what is not working and stop doing it
• Write down what you want to accomplish with action steps
• Take action
• Measure the action

Admit what is not working and stop doing it

First and foremost, be honest. Admit what is not working and stop doing it! You are digging a deeper hole for yourself taxing your energy, emotions and spirit. Using myself as an example, my planning my own social media accounts has drained me. Once I hire the virtual assistant, I am free to pursue other business activities.

Write down what you want to accomplish with action steps

Write down what you want to accomplish. You cannot only hope and fantasize that what’s not working. Devising an action plan is a must because it creates a framework towards getting things done. Moreover, this action plan holds you accountable because you have crafted it yourself. You are taking ownership with an action plan.

Take action!

You must active instead of passive. There are so many people who write action plans yet take no action. Do not be one of them! You must implement your action plan. Remember, every day you take action you are putting the things that haven’t worked for you farther away in your rearview mirror.

Measure the action

Of course, you have to measure your progress. This trips a lot of people up. They have the action plan and are taking action; however, they don’t know how well they are doing or how to build upon the progress that they are currently making. This is where creating metrics come in. It is crucial that you know how well (or bad) you are doing. Measurements give me a tangible way to create a baseline and evaluate yourself. A baseline is essential because it’s a standard. Anything above the baseline is good and anything below it is bad. The baseline also lends towards continuous improvement because you can create additional metrics on becoming better.

These four steps will help you ‘retrain your algorithm’ for greater personal and professional success.

Like this content? Subscribe to PositivityChange.com mailing list: http://positivitychange.com/mailinglist

Visit PositivityChange.com to help you manage and manifest positive change in your personal and professional lives.