SMART Goal Setting for Career Growth

The hardest aspect of job searching, I think, are setting goals. Realistic goals. Goals that you can obtain and feel accomplished. Too often we focus on grandiose goals like going to the gym starting in January. Instead, job seekers should set micro, SMART goals to make progress fast. It’s encouraging to see progress as you obtain those milestones. What Makes a Goal SMART? Specific: Clear and well-defined goals pave the way for focused efforts. Ask yourself, "What exactly do I want to achieve?" Measurable: Quantify your goal to track progress. Think in terms of numbers, deadlines, or specific criteria. Achievable: Your goal should be challenging yet attainable. It's about finding the balance between aspiration and realism. Relevant: Ensure your goal aligns with your broader career aspirations and values. It should contribute to your long-term objectives. Time-Bound: Set a realistic deadline. A time frame creates urgency and prompts action. Why SMART Goals Work? SMART goals provide a clear roadmap, making it easier to organize your efforts and resources. They also offer a way to measure progress, keeping you motivated and focused. 🌟 Tip: Break down larger goals into smaller, SMART steps. This approach can make even the most ambitious goals feel more manageable and less overwhelming. 🔍 Have you set SMART goals for your career? How have they impacted your journey? I'd love to hear your experiences and insights in the comments! #smartgoals #careersuccess #goalsetting #professionalgrowth

I decided to start the week with this. I’ve discovered that for experienced professionals, some things seem like platitudes. But for folks who are still feeling their way through their career, and “adulting" the right type of guidance helps. You feel overwhelmed at work & are not doing tasks you like. Unmotivated & frustrated, you're uncertain if you should quit, pursue a master’s program, or start your own business. But even that is confusing! Sounds familiar? Here is how I recommend you get out of that rut. 1) 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: It's okay not knowing everything. The key is to embrace learning & keep growing each day. Accept that it's fine to make mistakes, provided you learn from them. It's part of the learning curve. 2) 𝐒𝐞𝐭 𝐒𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐆𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐬: SMART= specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time bound. Instead of saying, "I want to get better at my job," say, "I want to improve my sales numbers by X% in Q3." This gives you a clear target and a way to measure your progress. 3) 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞 Y𝐨𝐮𝐫 G𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐬: Have clear, tangible goals and visualize them daily. They serve as your signal in times of uncertainty and remind you what your targets are. 4) 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞: While motivation is a can aid action, it fluctuates. Discipline, on the other hand, keeps you going even when motivation wanes. Discipline is committing to your goals and working towards them, 5) 𝐀𝐜𝐭!: Instead of waiting for the perfect plan, take action based on the information you have. Be willing to adjust your approach as you gain new insights, moving closer to your goals with each step forward. 6) 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤: Seek constructive feedback from colleagues, mentors, or supervisors. This can give you insight into areas where you can improve. Remember, feedback is not a criticism of you as a person but a tool to help you improve. 7) 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬: Maintain a sense of curiosity about your work and field. This can lead to a deeper understanding and open new avenues for growth. Ask questions, do research, & always strive to know more. 8) 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤: Building relationships can be beneficial. You can learn from experiences, get advice, & discover opportunities you would not have otherwise found. Don't be afraid to connect with others. 9) 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: Everyone has days they feel inadequate. It's part of being human. Instead of feeling bad about yourself, approach these situations objectively. 10) 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞: Work is important, but so is the rest of your life. Ensure you have work-life balance. This prevents burnout & keeps you from getting overwhelmed. Relax. Spend time with loved ones. Remember, personal & professional development is a continuous journey of growth and self-discovery. Embrace the process, stay resilient, & enjoy the fulfillment that comes from progress and achievement. Have a great week. Davidson 

The best development conversation I ever had happened 15 years ago. It started with a “simple” question. Where do you want to be in 2045? This conversation was with my first commander after becoming a pilot in the US Air Force. He is one of the best leaders I have ever worked for and said he had had many of these conversations before. “I find it easiest to start at the end,” he said. Did I want to be a General? Did I want to become an airline pilot? Did I want to do something else entirely? My answer to that initial question would inform how the rest of the conversation would go. He didn’t expect my answer, but that is another story. This advice of starting at the end is true for every goal. You need to start with an idea of where you want to go in the longer term, in order to know what you need to do in the short term. This is why I like to break goals into two parts: A long-term direction A short-term target The long-term direction is just that, a direction. I don’t know exactly where I want to end up, but I have a general idea. When thinking even 12 months in the future, it isn’t worth spending that much time creating a detailed vision of where you want to be because things change. The short-term target is another story. You want this to be as precise as possible so you know the exact actions you need to take and can measure if you have achieved it. So for me, goal setting looks like this: Where do you want to be in 12 months? What do you need to do in the next 3 months, to be on track for that 12 month goal? After 3 months, you measure where you are at and then create a new 12 month goal. That keeps you moving forward and learning from what you either achieve or fail to achieve. Where do you want to be in 12 months? #Goals #Progress #GoalSetting