Professional Goal Setting: The Sky is the Limit in 2018!

Hello 2018!  Goodbye 2017!  Another year has come and gone.  Do you set goals for yourself with every New Year?  I’m not really into New Year’s resolutions but I do like to take this time to evaluate, reflect and set personal goals for the coming year.
 
Last year I wrote a blog titled, What's Your Word? Setting your Intention for 2017, for setting an intention word for the year.  My word was “balance”.  I didn’t always achieve balance all year long but when life got hectic and challenging, my intention word “balance” would pop in my head.
 
Let’s talk about career goals for 2018.  Including your career is an important step in goal setting.  After all, we spend a majority of our time at work and it’s a vital part of our life.  Ask yourself:
 

• Where do I want to be in 5 years?
• Do I want a promotion?
• Do I want to change career paths?
• Do I want to go back to school?
• What do I want to achieve this year?

 
Answering these questions honestly will aid in your career planning.  There are many different methods to goal setting.  There are a multitude of articles and books on the topic.  A quick Google search will help you get started.  I would like to share a few career goal-setting tips that I will be using this year.
 

• Set small attainable and reachable goals.  Do something weekly, monthly or quarterly that will move you towards your career goals.  I have to recertify on both of my HR certifications this year.  I will be scheduling monthly webinars and seminars that I can attend in order to meet my recertification requirements by my deadline. 

 

• Do you feel stagnant, bored, unmotivated in your current position?  Sometimes, when we become too comfortable and do the same tasks day in and day out, it can lead to these feelings.  Talk to your manager and discuss other opportunities in your department or organization.  Take a seminar or training in your industry.  Volunteer for a committee or maybe your company will allow for outside volunteering in your community.  Get out of your comfort zone.  It’s hard to do.  Trust me, I know.  A few years ago, I had the opportunity to change my role and work on-site with one of our clients.  It was scary but one of the best career decisions I ever made.  I have grown professionally and personally due to this career move. 

 

• Write down your goals in your planner, journal or outlook calendar.  Review them regularly.  Adjust and change as needed.  Seeing your goals will serve as a reminder and motivation towards what you want to accomplish in 2018. 

 
What career journey will we take this year?  What goals will we fulfill?  When we reach our goals, we gain a sense of purpose and accomplishment.  So, let’s get busy and start setting those career goals in 2018!  Wishing all of you a successful year!