The Power Of Goal Setting: Setting Healthy Career Goals
It can be normal to want to be happy and prosperous in your career. Setting specific and realistic career goals can be a necessary part of seeing change and progress in life, and there are steps you can take to develop and follow through on goals like these. To get started, it can be helpful to know what healthy goals might look like, how to discover your goals, and how to seek additional resources and support if needed.
What are healthy career goals?
Healthy career goals can be those that aim to help you accomplish goals and find fulfillment in your career, whether now or in the future. How achievable and realistic they are separates healthy goals from unhealthy ones. Specific, detailed goals that include an action plan may have the best chance of success without causing unnecessary stress.
In addition, it can be essential to set professional goals that allow you to continue reaching your personal goals. For example, try to outline career goals that don't hinder maintaining a work-life balance. When you prioritize work over relationships, mental health, and other parts of personhood, you might be setting yourself up for chronic stress or burnout.
Tips for setting healthy career goals
When you were finishing school or got the job you're in now, what was your future plan? What did you want to accomplish? Considering questions like these may be a positive starting point when developing your career goals. Think about where you are now and where you would like to be in five, ten, or 20 years. Are you on a path that will help you get there? If not, outline what you want or need to change to get there.
How to start goal setting
Start with the basics when you're planning and setting your goals. Look at where you are now and where you would like to be. As you consider which steps to take, it may be helpful to separate your ideas into different categories, such as:
- Short-term, mid-term, and long-term goals
- Professional and personal goals
- Big-picture goals and small-picture goals
Connecting career goals with a realistic plan
With some ideas of what you'd like to see now and in the future, you can think about other goals to connect your ideas. For example, if your most significant career goal is to become a department manager, you might realize that you first need to return to school to get a degree.
Try your best to think of any obstacles or challenges you might face preemptively and factor them into your plan. It might be easy to be highly optimistic when you make goals, but keeping them realistic and meeting yourself where you're at can be more productive.
How to work toward your career goals
Once you've listed your goals, list out the steps it might take to succeed in each. Keep your ideas minor, specific, and manageable for the best results. Try not to overwhelm yourself with too many details.
Creating a flexible plan to achieve career goals
For example, if you're an aspiring manager who first needs to return to school, it might help to list the following steps:
- Researching different schools
- Applying for scholarships
- Completing applications by their due date
- Reaching out to the business management advisor at the school you choose
In addition, consider that your goals and plans may change over time. Maybe your goal was to be president of the company that you currently work for. However, you may decide to work for a different company after a few years.
Revisiting and adjusting your career goals regularly
Changing your goals is allowed and may be highly motivating. Every six months to a year, ensuring your written goals align with your life path can be beneficial. That way, you can make the necessary changes and keep pushing forward.
Career counseling options
The process of brainstorming, creating, and following through on career goals can be challenging. In some cases, people may not be prepared to find answers to these questions independently. In these cases, the support and guidance of a mental health professional can make navigating complicated steps easier.
Career counseling online for flexible support
If you face barriers to in-person career counseling, you can connect with a career counselor online through a platform like BetterHelp. When you connect with a professional through the web, you can connect with someone from home and choose between phone, video, or live chat sessions. In addition, your therapist can send you online resources to look through at home.
Research supports online therapy's ability to help individuals through periods of high stress, including young adulthood. One study showed that online therapy could effectively reduce "psychological distress" among university students, suggesting that internet-based modalities may benefit those beginning to discover career and personal goals.
Takeaway
Read more below for answers to questions commonly asked about this topic.
How do you set good career goals?
You can set career goals by using various methods. For example, you can begin by using the principles of SMART goals. With this strategy, you’re setting clear career goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. As a result, you can define goals that are actionable and trackable and avoid setting unrealistic goals that may be unattainable.
For instance, if you're aiming for a promotion, identify the skills and experiences you want to achieve this goal. Perhaps you need to work on your communication skills, avoid procrastination, complete a professional certificate, or practice public speaking. Once you know what your set goals are, you can begin to make a plan to meet them.
What are examples of career goals?
Examples of career goals might include obtaining a master's degree in your field, aiming for a specific job title or position within a certain timeframe, or learning a particular skill set relevant to your career. Other examples of clear goals may be getting a professional certification in the next quarter, taking on new responsibilities in the next three months, or securing a new position in the next year.
Another great example could be expanding your professional network to include influential individuals in your industry. Meeting new people in your industry can help you generate new ideas for projects or collaborations and open up potential opportunities. It also gives you a chance to conduct informational interviews to determine whether another company, industry, or new project may be a beneficial path for you.
How do you plan to achieve your goals?
You can achieve your goals by breaking them down into smaller, manageable steps. If your goal is to earn a master's degree, start by researching programs, then complete and submit applications. You might learn new skills by completing courses or training programs. When you set professional goals, you may want to keep your plan flexible for unseen changes and ensure your goals remain attainable.
How does goal setting help you build a strong career?
Building a strong career involves setting clear career goals and actively working towards them. Goal setting provides direction and helps you prioritize tasks that contribute to your professional growth. Have a basic foundation of the skills necessary in your field and look for opportunities for professional development. You can find opportunities through networking and staying informed about industry trends.
Which is more important: personal goals or work goals?
Both personal and work goals are important and should be balanced. Personal goals can contribute to your overall happiness and satisfaction, while work goals can advance your professional life. You can stay true to your personal values and strive for goals in both areas, as they often support and complement each other.
The value of goal setting for personal and professional development
Personally and professionally, goal setting provides a clear direction and helpful motivation, helping individuals stay focused and progress toward their desired personal and professional growth and interests.
What kind of support do you need to achieve your goals?
What you will need to meet your professional development goals depends on the potential outcomes you’re looking for. In many cases, you may need support from mentors, educators, or colleagues to achieve your goals. Advisors and professors can be invaluable, especially for academic goals like a master's degree.
In a workplace environment, you might ask for guidance from experienced colleagues or supervisors about the type of skill development you should focus on or what leadership responsibilities you should assume to attain your career aspirations. You may even reach out to a fellow team member for advice on overcoming challenges you may be facing or to learn about new leads and career opportunities in different departments. In addition, personal support from friends and family can be motivating and encouraging.
How do you achieve your goals as a student?
As a student, you can achieve your goals by setting specific, measurable goals, such as studying for a certain amount of time per day and obtaining specific test scores. Organize your study schedule, request help when needed, and track your academic progress. You may also want to balance your academic work with extracurricular activities to be a more well-rounded student.
Why is it important to start setting healthy career goals early?
Early career planning allows you to set clear career goals and begin working toward them gradually. By planning career goals early, you can find out what skills and qualifications you need to get to where you want to go. You might be able to find early opportunities for internships and networking, which can help support the path to a successful career.
How setting healthy career goals can contribute to employee success
In the workplace, setting healthy career goals can help employees prioritize their tasks, develop relevant skills, and create a clear path to success within their roles and overall careers.
The importance of clear performance goals
Clear and manageable performance goals provide a roadmap for success, helping individuals stay organized, track progress, and maintain motivation without becoming overwhelmed.
What is goal setting in career development?
This type of goal setting is the process of figuring out what you want out of your career and the small steps you will have to take to get there. Setting professional goals can help you achieve career growth by giving you a more straightforward path. When you set specific goals and focus on developing a plan to meet them, it can keep you focused, especially if you are starting to feel stuck in your current position.
Breaking down a large goal into smaller, more attainable goals can be an effective strategy for achieving your professional goals. It can be helpful to think of these smaller short-term goals as stepping stones to lead you to your long-term career goals.
What is the biggest benefit of setting goals?
When you set relevant goals, it can help you keep your career plan on track. Setting achievable goals can have many benefits, including the following:
- Helping you figure out a path to meet your long-term objectives
- Identifying new leadership opportunities when they appear
- Being more open to new career opportunities if they get you closer to your goal
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