SMART Goals: Guiding Your Future
You may be someone who has heard of SMART Goals; perhaps you’ve heard enough about them, but they truly are a great tool to use when doing career preparation. It is crucial to set attainable goals because a lot of the time, life passes us by! It isn’t anyone’s job but your own to determine the next steps in your life and when they need to be achieved to find fulfillment. Let’s break this concept down:
What does SMART Stand for?
Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-Bound. The way I look at SMART Goals is practical and entirely realistic. This isn’t a manifestation technique or a map to your dream life where everything falls into place effortlessly. A SMART Goal is a plan of execution that relies on your ability to stick to it.
Setting Specific Goals
The first step is identifying your personal career aspirations as a whole before narrowing them down. You may be looking to climb the corporate ladder, switch industries, or go off on your own journey and launch a business, whatever it may be, there are steps to acquisition.
Break down your large-scale goal into smaller step-by-step goals. For example, let’s say you’re in an entry-level sales role but your end goal is to be the Director of Business Development, break that down into steps. First determine, how much do I need to sell in my first year to be promoted to the next level position? The answer to that question is considered a specific objective. Unrelated to the example, this process might involve determining the skills you need to acquire, the positions you aim to hold, and/or the industries you want to get experience in.
Measuring Achievable Goals
Your goals must be measurable. How will you know when you’ve achieved them otherwise? Assess what skills and resources you already have and what you will need to obtain in order to achieve your first SMART Goal. Back to the sales example, this is measurable because it is quantitative – by setting a numbered goal, it’s far easier to measure completion. Another example could be a promotion within a specific timeframe; the more specific your goal is, the more measurable it will be.
Is it Attainable and Relevant?
Remember how I mentioned that this tactic is not for manifestation or a map to your dream life? That draws into the attainability of your goal. You can have far-fetched goals, but unrealistic goals lead to frustration and disappointment. Be honest with yourself about what you can accomplish, all limitations considered.
Along the same lines, assure that your goals are relevant. Not only should they reflect your chosen or desired career path, but they should resonate with your personal motivations and values. Especially if your resources are more constrained, don’t waste your valuable time and money on goals that are irrelevant and unfulfilling – it will only set you back. Recognize potential obstacles early on to plan on how you’ll overcome them.
Setting Time-Bound Goals
Assign specific timelines to your goals, just as you have deadlines in school and work; timelines add a sense of urgency and will help you stay on track. Urgency is a powerful motivator; deadlines in a priority-ordered timeframe ensure that you’re working on the most critical elements of your career preparation.
Execution
To reiterate, start with a large goal and break it up into small, specific goals. Be sure to monitor your progress, celebrating successes and making adjustments as needed. It helps to share your goals with someone you trust, they could be a friend, family member, or mentor, anyone who will reinforce accountability.
SMART goals provide a structured and effective approach to career preparation. They guide you in defining your objectives, taking action, and staying on track. Applying these principles will empower you to reach your aspirations, you’ll look back and thank yourself for mapping each step to your end goal.