You have enough to do already. Chances are, you’ve started off the new year running just as fast as you did at the end of 2022. Where, in the grand scheme of things, are you supposed to find the time to sit down and define, set, and start working toward those career goals you keep pushing to the back burner?
If this rings all too true for you, well then, that’s the whole point. By investing the time and work into goal setting early on in the year, you’ll have a realistic road map to follow for the next 11-plus months. It will save you wasting any more time on all of this – and just imagine what your life might look like a year from now if you accomplish what you set out to do!
- Write it all down. If you feel lost at any point during the year, you can literally look at your career goal plan and become grounded and focused again. Goals are powerful tools that keep you accountable and pointed in the right direction.
Reflect on the past year.
This is step one in your successful goal-setting strategy. Incentivize yourself toward your goals by thinking back on what you achieved – or fell short of achieving – in 2022. Were your goals too broad, or unrealistic? Were there external factors that got in the way of reaching them? Be honest as you self-assess.
Be sure all your goals are SMART.
SMART goals are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound. Setting them sets you up for success and helps you work smarter, not harder.
Look for ways to improve your performance.
Are you doing the best work you can right now? Even if your goal turns out to be “find a new job,” it always pays to identify areas for improvement – and take action. Reevaluating how you work can significantly enhance your productivity – and your personal brand – as you position yourself for whatever changes may lie ahead.
Develop your soft skills.
Also known as transferable skills, these are traits that will serve you well in any role, business or industry. They can also prove invaluable as you work toward both short and long-term goals. A few examples are communication, organization, teamwork and collaboration, time management, leadership and emotional intelligence.
- Sharpen your communication skills by being a more active listener.
- Work on your emotional intelligence to learn how to have hard, but necessary, conversations with your coworkers and/or your boss. This could make it easier to deal with difficult people or even ask for that long-awaited raise.
Perhaps the most valuable resource to help you achieve your 2023 goals is a professional career counselor who will partner with you from start to finish – making a gigantic and daunting task realistic and reachable. At PrideStaff Modesto, we have an experienced team just waiting to work with you through the life cycle of your career, starting today. Give us a shout so we can tell you more.
