Goal setting is the process of defining specific, measurable, and achievable objectives that you plan to attain. It involves identifying what you want to accomplish and creating a plan to reach that objective. Goal setting can be applied to both personal and professional settings. In a personal setting, you might set goals related to your health, relationships, or personal growth. In a professional setting, you might set goals related to your job performance, career advancement, or organisational objectives.
Effective goal setting requires careful consideration of several key factors, including:
Specificity: Goals should be specific and well-defined, outlining exactly what you want to achieve and how you plan to achieve it.
Measurability: Goals should be measurable, so you can track your progress and determine whether you have achieved your objective.
Achievability: Goals should be challenging but achievable, considering your current skill set, resources, and constraints.
Relevance: Goals should be relevant to your overall objectives and aligned with your values and priorities.
Time-bound: Goals should have a specific timeframe for achievement, allowing you to focus your efforts and measure progress over time. Add a reasonable time frame to achieve each of your goals, whether short term or long term.
Here’s an example of the thought process to building a SMART goal related to your career, e.g. if you know you what to get a “better” job:
Specific: I want to land a job working for a SaaS company.
More specific: I want to land a job as an SEO specialist working for a SaaS company like Spotify.
Measurable: I want to land a job as an SEO specialist working for a SaaS company like Spotify. To achieve this, I will complete at least 2 SEO certification courses within the next month and apply for 3-5 jobs a week for the 2 months after.
Achievable: I have relevant data analytics and social media marketing experience, but will need to develop my SEO specific skills to bridge the gap. Completing at least 2 SEO certification courses next month and applying for 3-5 jobs a week in the 2 months after is realistic given my time capacity/availability.
Relevant: I want to join a company with room for me to grow, collaborate with people from different cultures, and contribute to something innovative.
Time-bound: I will complete at least 2 SEO courses in month 1, apply 5 jobs a week in month 2, and apply 3 jobs a week in month 3.
SMART goal: I want to land a job as an SEO specialist working for a SaaS company like Spotify - the role will allow me to grow and contribute to something innovative. To achieve this, I will complete at least 2 SEO courses in month 1, apply 5 jobs a week in month 2, and apply 3 jobs a week in month 3.
A Harvard Business Study discovered that:
Only 14% of people actually set goals for themselves
That 14% is 10x more likely to achieve a level of success than people who do not set goals
Out of that 14%, only 3% take the time to write them down
That 3% is 3 times more likely to be successful than those who didn’t write them down
So, if you don’t have goals written down, you’re up to 30 times more likely to miss out on success!
