Yes, I get it. Countless professional career coaches, me included, have written volumes about the importance of goal setting, and right now, you may be thinking to yourself, “Oh pleeeease. Not another article, yammering on about the same old thing…”
Well, sorry, but this is important stuff. Goal setting really is essential if you intend to get anywhere. In fact, it’s on the exact same essentialness level as a map would be, if you were planning a trip to a place you’ve never been before. You wouldn’t set out without consulting your trusty map app, would you? The same is true when you’re attempting to find a “new destination” in your career.
In the same way that a company or a corporation needs a well-thought-out business plan that contains viable growth strategies and metrics, you and your career need a plan. If you want to learn, grow, and succeed, you will need to define your goals and develop a reasonable strategy for accomplishing them.
The continual setting and achieving of goals is the foundation if a satisfying career – or, quite often, it’s the continual setting and modifying of goals before they can be achieved. (And, while we’re on the subject, goal setting is also the foundation of a satisfying life.) Of course, there are some people who have enjoyed glorious careers that seem to have dropped into their laps. We’ve all heard about Natalie Portman being discovered by a Revlon cosmetics agent in a pizzeria on Long Island and – just like that! – she became a star. And Steve Forbes, editor-in-chief of Forbes magazine and CEO of Forbes Publishing Company, inherited the job from his father, Malcom Forbes, who inherited it from his father, B. C. Forbes. Sometimes, being in the right place – or the right family – at the right time pays off.
For the rest of us, though, setting goals is absolutely crucial. In order to get somewhere, you must choose a direction, and then you must start moving toward it. (Many years ago, I wrote one of SkillPath’s registered taglines: “Pick a Direction and Grow.” That’s how much I believe in goal-setting – enough to put it on the cover of our company catalogs.)
But not just any old goal will do. A misdirected goal can carry you off in the wrong direction, and make you feel like a failure. Still others can leave you spinning your wheels, getting nowhere, and zapping your confidence in the process. But some goals – the right goals – will spur you on to success. Like a beacon in the night, they’ll continually lead you down the right path, as long as you keep focusing on them.
Goals that work for you
So how do you set goals that help rather than hinder? There are five essential parts to a worthy goal. It should be:
Reasonable: “One day you can be president of the United States if you really want to,” they told us when we were kids. And they insisted we should always “aim for the stars.” Sky-high career goals may be inspiring for some, but they can be self-defeating for many people. To avoid the “impossible goal syndrome,” break down your long-term goals into something more realistic. Set smaller, bite-sized, daily goals—like showing up for work on time, spending at least 15 minutes networking with people who can help you, or getting all the way through a reasonable to-do list. These repeated successes will build your feelings of personal fulfillment and your confidence, while steadily moving you closer to your larger, long-term goals.
Specific: Set clear-cut, simple goals. Instead of saying something vague like, “I want to move up the career ladder,” say, “I’ll get a degree in my field,” or “I’ll make sure that all my reports are on time and accurate.” Once you’ve pinpointed some goals (no more than five at a time), write them down and say them out loud. Committing them to paper will make them more concrete. By thinking about them, writing them down, and saying them out loud, your brain will build multiple strong connections to your goals, making you more likely to be successful! (The “multiple connections” thing is very real. It’s the way our brains work, so take advantage of it.)
Measurable: This goes hand in hand with being specific. Make sure your goals have clear outcomes that you can see or quantify in some way. Instead of saying, “I’m going to be a better employee,” say, “I will contribute at least one constructive idea to every staff meeting.” This will make it easier for you to track your results. Either you reached your goal, or you didn’t. (And if you didn’t, don’t beat yourself up. Just read on…you may need to do some tweaking.)
Adjustable: If your goal is too rigid or impractical, it might not be attainable. For example, let’s say you’ve set a goal of getting your master’s degree no later than one year from today. But if you are working full-time, have two small children, and have suddenly found out you must vacate your apartment and move across town, your timeline for getting that degree will probably need to be lengthened. Or you may decide that getting an advanced degree isn’t really necessary, or maybe it’s not something you truly want to do. Goals require not only ability and drive, but commitment and opportunity. Reevaluate each goal periodically and decide if it’s still something you really want to pursue. Then, if necessary, give yourself the opportunity to change your mind or create more realistic or desirable goals.
Given a time frame: Setting a deadline is particularly important, especially if you tend to procrastinate. Without a deadline, it may be hard to find a reason to act right now; there’s no real sense of urgency. So, pick an end date for achieving your goal (again, write it down), as in, “I’m going to make 10 cold calls before noon every day for one month.” On the end date, evaluate. Did you reach your goal? If so, pat yourself on the back. If not, ask yourself if you may have set your goal too high. Was it too complicated? Did you work hard enough at it? Was it something you really wanted to achieve? You may find that your goal needs to be refined, changed, or even possibly abandoned.
To summarize, make sure all your career goals are reasonable, specific, measurable, adjustable, and given a time frame. Remember to review your goals at regular intervals, and then do some “housecleaning” if you discover that your goals seem obsolete, or they no longer work for you. Get rid of ‘em and set new ones! Unearthing a new goal and then going for it can be exciting and energizing.
One last thing: be sure to reward yourself when you complete a goal. A cup of “fancy” coffee, a call with a friend, a walk in the park, a visit to the local dog rescue shelter for an hour of volunteer dog snuggling (one of my faves!) …just do something that recognizes your accomplishment. After all, the successful achievement of a goal—big or small—makes you totally awesome and worthy of a celebration.
Was this article helpful? Do you have other topics you’d like for me to tackle? I’m all ears! I love hearing from my readers, and I love suggestions. See you in three weeks!