The idea of setting yourself up for success has been front and center for me recently on a couple of matters, both personally and professionally. It’s a simple phrase that can mean so much, a phrase that can provide guidance and for me, the drive to succeed.
But what does “Success” actually mean? In its simplest form, success can be described as a destination, an accomplishment or achievement. For a destination, specifically with Risk Management, the destination can be meeting all the policies and procedures requirements. For an accomplishment it can be a professional designation, or a personal athletic goal.
To be successful, there is clarity, and alignment in knowing exactly what “good” looks like before the work even begins. For me, ‘good ‘is setting a half marathon time that I know is a stretch yet with the right training, it’s achievable. Success is meeting and hopefully exceeding the time target. Having a training plan, there’s an internal drive to follow the plan and plan for success.
Why It Matters
As a Risk Manager, taking the time to define success upfront is one of the most valuable steps that I can take in any relationship—professional or personal—for a few key reasons:
- It sets expectations. Both sides know what is required, what “done” looks like, and what matters most.
- It sets goals or targets. A clear definition of success becomes the benchmark for planning, measurement, and accountability.
- It sets a clear path forward. When success is defined, decisions become easier, priorities become obvious, and the relationship becomes more collaborative.
Success Is a Two-Way Conversation
And this is the genesis of wanting to post about setting up for professional success. This notion has kept coming up because success isn’t something one person unilaterally decides. It’s never a one-way declaration. True success is a shared definition—a two-way conversation where each side contributes to the vision and agrees on the path. Whether you’re working with clients, colleagues, partners, or stakeholders, alignment upfront is what creates unity in direction, reduces friction, and builds trust. Risk Managers need to be open for and encourage dialogue to frame the vison, the path and frame what a good success is. Without a defined picture of success, people tend to default to assumptions. And assumptions are the fastest way to create frustration, misalignment, and missed expectations.
The Real Question
Before starting anything meaningful—an engagement, a project, a partnership, or a new initiative—please pause and ask:
“What does success look like for you?”
“Here’s what success looks like for me.”
Bringing those answers together is where real momentum begins. Because when everyone is aligned from the start, you don’t just set yourself up for success—you set each other up for success. And that’s where exceptional outcomes happen.