top of page

Setting Good Goals

Updated: Feb 21, 2022

Everyone has heard that we should have goals. Whether your goals are personal or professional there are a few concepts you should consider when setting your goals.



Take Small Steps


Set smaller goals that build upon each other. Desmond Tutu once said “there is only one way to eat an elephant; one bite at a time.”


For example, setting a goal to get a new job sounds great on the surface, but also sounds daunting and at times seemingly impossible. What you should really ask yourself is what are the regular activities I need to complete to achieve a larger overreaching goal.


Challenge yourself to:

- Network with one new person per week

- Submit ten applications per week

- Talk to two recruiters per week

- Have one interview per week


You will begin to see that persistent progress towards the small goals will result in helping you achieve your larger goals; one bite at a time.


We still recommend that you have BIG goals, but those goals need to be supported with smaller goals that lead to accomplishing the BIG goal.


💡 Pro Tip: Write your goals on your bathroom mirror or somewhere that you can see them regularly. Revisit your goals weekly to track your progress.


Use the S.M.A.R.T. Framework


Specific

Instead of only setting a goal to get a new job, set a goal of getting five interviews at a specific company or five interviews for a specific role. This will help you narrow your focus and has the added benefit of helping others understand your goal so they can help you with the goal.


💡 Pro Tip: Share your goals with your friends and your network. You will be surprised who comes out to help you on your journey if you can make it easy for them to help you.


Measurable

Your goals should be specific enough that they can be measured.

- How many interviews do I want to have over the next month?

- How many applications do I want to submit this month?

- How much more money do you want to make?

- How big of a team do you want to lead?

- What year do you want to retire?


The criteria for measurement can be anything, but again it is important to have a goal that you can measure yourself against.


Achievable

This part of the goal setting process can be tricky. You may say to yourself “I know what I want but it is impossible.” Remember to set smaller goals that help you work towards the larger goal.


Even if your larger goals seem impossible DO NOT let that stop you. Don’t fear being great. Stay optimistic and good things will happen as long as your stay persistent.


If you can set smaller achievable goals that build to the larger goal you will progress on your journey.


Realistic

Again, setting a realistic outcome for a big goal can seem impossible. This is where having those smaller goals that build to larger goals is so important.


Also, do not let your fear of the work or the difficulty of the task prevent you from setting big goals. Don’t let this step hold you back from searching for greatness.


Time bound

Give yourself an end date for each goal. The small goals can be weekly and the big goals can be quarterly or annually. The idea here is to make sure you are progressing towards achieving your goals.


💡 Pro Tip: Schedule time every Sunday evening to ask yourself:

- Did I progress on my goals?

- Could I have done something differently to improve my outcomes?

- Do I need to adjust my goals given my current situation?

- What am I going to do this week to achieve my goals?


Write Rest and Edit


Writing goals for some people can seem impossible as well. But like anything you can break goal writing into smaller pieces.


Write: One thing we like to do is just sit down and write. The goals do not have to be perfect or precise the first time you write them down.


Rest: Once you have a rough draft of your goals step away.


Edit: When you come back, read what you wrote, look at the S.M.A.R.T. framework, and edit them until you are satisfied you can explain your goals to a complete stranger.


💡 Pro Tip: The process of goal setting is not about the end outcome, but rather about creating good habits that help you work towards accomplishing difficult tasks.


Be Accountable


The first person you are accountable to is yourself.


Get in the mindset that achieving your goals depends on your level of effort.


That being said, you should also share your goals with those in your circle of trust. Not only can they help you, but there is proven psychological underpinnings that indicate we work harder towards our goals when we tell other people.


If you set good goals and remain accountable you will look back several years from now and know you deserve all of the amazing accomplishments that have come your way.


Once you have good goals and good habits about working towards your goals accelerating your career will be part of your everyday routine.


Please share any good goal setting tips or habits with us through our Contact Us link.




712 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


Join The Accelerating Careers Newsletter

Thanks for subscribing!

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

© 2021 Accelerating Careers, All Rights Reserved.

bottom of page