Setting goals is one of the best ways to achieve your career aspirations. Instead of setting one lofty goal try bite sizing it by setting some smaller goals. This will give you a great sense of accomplishment and increase your confidence. Setting several goals also acts as a pathway to achieve your overall aspiration.
This article is part of our Career Moves series; advice and guidance to help you achieve your career aspirations.
Think about what motivates you and why
Are you feeling stuck in a career rut? Or were you laid off and looking to make a career change? If you’re thinking of making a job change this year ask yourself why?
What are you looking for? It could be career growth, a desire to work in a different industry or to make more money.
Set bite sized goals that are achievable
Focus on goals that are doable. This could be learning a new skill or taking on some freelance work. You could start out by watching one webinar or by spending 20 minutes checking out freelance opportunities in your field. The trick is to do it consistently so that it becomes part of your routine.
Set one or two goals at a time
Having too many goals at once can be overwhelming making it harder to achieve. Once you achieve your first couple of goals it becomes even easier to set the next set of goals for your pathway.
Make a plan to achieve the goal
Many of us launch into something new with gusto thinking that enthusiasm will carry the day. The reality is that even the best intentions can get off track without a plan.
My friend Julie told me she always achieves her goals. How? By setting small goals and making a plan to accomplish them.
Last year Julie wanted to earn a new certification to help her get a promotion. First, she signed up for an exam date six months from the date she began to study. Then, she created a weekly study plan and tracked her progress to make sure she was on schedule.
Let’s say your goal is to save enough for a dream vacation without adding to your credit card balance. What are the steps you need to take to do that?
Do you need to spend less or save more? Could you start a new side hustle or take on freelance work?
Once you have settled on how you are going to save for that dream vacation make a detailed plan to achieve it. Anticipate what you need to accomplish the goal and any barriers or obstacles that may come up such as an unexpected expense.
Be kind to yourself
If you find that you are unable to stick to the plan you made, then make a new plan!
It’s never to late to modify or start over. Encourage yourself by setting small milestones and reward yourself when you achieve those milestones.
Celebrate your wins
Even if you don’t achieve your goal as quickly as you’d like or in the way you planned, it’s important to congratulate yourself for what you have accomplished along the way.
Download our free SMART Goals Guide that takes you through all the steps of setting SMART goals.
This article is part of our Career Moves series; advice and guidance to help you achieve your career aspirations.
Arche helps people architect, navigate and advance their career path with expert advice and tools to support your job search, interview preparation, professional branding, salary negotiations, and career advancement.
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