How to create realistic work goals

Setting work goals is a fascinating and balancing act. Your work goals must comply with your personal goals and align with the company’s objectives. While some companies may help their employees with goal setting, others don’t. You should take a step and use goal-setting as an opportunity for professional and personal growth. Keep below 8 things in mind when setting work goals:

1. Understand your team’s structure
Understand the interrelationships and functions of your team will go a long way in setting helpful and more productive workplace goals. Every team acts as a support system. Ensure you get the right map of how your unit works, and you can identify measurable and specific areas you can improve to help projects and work processes run smoother.

2. Talk to your manager.
The primary reason why you are employed is to make work easier for your boss. Have a look at your job description and identify where you can be of service. Having an honest conversation with your boss is a step towards clearly defining your workplace goals.

3. Identify what is in your control and plan for what isn’t
For every goal you want to achieve at your workplace, there are always factors that are out of your control. Have a clear distinction and a plan of what you will do if those factors don’t go as planned. Coordinate with other departments too for any upcoming deadlines and keep communications lines open. You have to ensure that there is an accountability agreement in case they fail to deliver their end.

4. Visualize where you want your career to go
What do you want your next professional role to be, and what skills and qualifications will you need? Put your professional and personal goals in line and learn the skills required to accomplish your goals.

5. Think about the bigger picture
Go beyond your instant tasks; being a professional is more than just being proficient and productive at your desk. Professional progression requires a lot of experience and a broad range of skills. Include educational opportunities such as professional seminars to your list of objectives. Continual learning is essential for you to get that promotion or increase your responsibilities at work. You can’t get promoted to the Managing Director’s position with no leadership experience. Looking into how other departments work and figure out how different parts of the company fit together will go a long way in helping you get that promotion.

6. Visualize how your goal achievement will look like in the long-run
We have all heard the basics- a good goal must be measurable, specific, relevant, time-bound, and attainable. However, you must look beyond the basics and visualize how your goal achievement will look like in the future. This will help you have the motivation to work harder towards realizing your workplace goals.

7. Schedule constant check-ins and reviews
The process of setting and achieving workplace goals should not be limited to just one sitting at the beginning. Any plans you make should be flexible to retain their usefulness; workplace goals are not any different. As time passes, schedule regular sit-ins with your manager to check up on your progress. These conversations and meetings can be traditional and formal. No matter how frequent you like to have these meetings, it’s essential always to keep communicating with your boss to reflect and adapt as things progress.

8. Don’t be afraid to ask for support
Every brilliant and successful person in the world today has had a team of supportive individuals, whether it’s family or friends. If you need support, don’t hesitate to ask for it. To achieve your goals quicker, you have to seek the help of a coach or a mentor. Look for helpers and allies who care about your professional success. Ask for advice whenever you need it.

Setting work goals should be a continuing practice. Treat this a never-stopping conversation, and every time you get a task, ask the manager what they expect at the end of the job. After the project is over, talk with your team and have a sit down with the manager to discuss what could have been done better and what went well. This will help you progress your career quicker.