How to Set Goals for your Job

Setting goals for a job can be a wonderful path to self-improvement and professional success. If those goals are personally motivating it can increase a desire to succeed. Designing these goals requires personal reflection as pushing forward towards accomplishment calls for realizing what is personally difficult. Along with that, a level of realism is necessary as thinking too big can easily result in failure and disappointment which can become a setback. But setting goals can be a difficult process as there are a variety of avenues and endeavors to choose from. Think of goal setting as designing an ideal portrait for personal desires. Envisioning a desired outcome is a necessity in order to take the correct steps that result in a beautiful picture. Michael Dell, the CEO of DELL, summed this up, "You don't need to be a genius or a visionary, or even a college graduate for that matter, to be successful. You just need framework and a dream."

Practically speaking, what does this process look like? We connected with current business executives to discover how to set goals for your job.

SWOT

Amanda E. Johnson, Chief Marketing Officer of HIDE, a beauty brand specializing in concealer and foundation. She believes in an acronym of self-reflection which guides the process.

"In order to set occupational goals for yourself, a few ground rules are necessary. First, create a SWOT analysis. SWOT stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Each month, update your SWOT analysis, and focus on how you are turning your weaknesses into strengths. Second, create a 1-, 5-, and 10-year plan for yourself. This will ensure that your short-term goals and plans are aligned with your long-term goals. Third and lastly, communicate your goals to your manager/superior. List out a weekly agenda, have monthly and quarterly meetings regarding your career trajectory, and discuss training you can take to improve your skill set."

Look at the calendar

Disco is a company which was created to service men's skincare needs. Their founder, Benjamin Smith, advises those creating their goals to create deadlines for themselves so as to not idle.

"Goals are a wonderful aspiration and should be paired with a schedule. Procrastination can rear its ugly head and tell us we can get to that project or idea tomorrow. By defining a timeline for yourself you're manufacturing additional motivation. A goal without a plan is more of a pipe dream than anything. You wouldn't ask a friend to meet you for dinner without giving a specific time because then the whole evening becomes discombobulated. It may be realistic to move your deadline forward or back depending on circumstances but so long as you're focused on that calendar deadline, you're on the right path."

Plan for extra effort

Often, when working to achieve the desired goals, an additional push to get over the proverbial hump is necessary. Difficult goals are so for a reason though they are incredibly fulfilling. Sacrificing time, a dedication to learning, or critical thinking all fall into this category. Andrea Xu, the CEO of Umamicart, a service delivering Asian groceries, suggests this.

"Going the extra mile is sometimes a requirement for being successful in your goals. This may look like taking a class or attending a seminar to advance your current skill set. Or, you have to put additional hours into a project. It's possible that you have to reinvent your approach when you're halfway to the end point. Whatever the case, be sure to realize that extra mile effort should be part of your plan."

Be realistic

Boye Fajinmi is the co-founder and president of TheFutureParty, a daily email containing up to date information related to culture, business and entertainment. He considers a down-to-earth approach to designing goals to be imperative in order to avoid certain failure.

"Dreaming big is always applaudable but there are times where that dream begins to loom large. Being realistic when planning for your future is also applaudable. If the goal you set initially is too lofty all you've managed to do is set yourself up for disappointment. The creators of Rome didn't wake up, build Rome, and then go to sleep that same night. They began with realistic goals that culminated in what Rome became. At the same time, don't sell yourself short because that won't get you very far."

Do your research

Vaster is a company offering custom mortgage solutions with the purpose of speeding up the home owning process. Their vice president of bridge lending, George Fraguio, believes that some of the best goal setting requires all the relevant information.

"As you define your goals, ask yourself questions. What tasks do I need to accomplish in order to make this a reality? Will I need additional training? Are there outside time constraints I need to meet? Do other people need to be involved? What are the potential roadblocks or hurdles? Then, set out to answer these questions. A well-designed goal plan is aware of what's to come and research is part of how you create that plan."

Small leads to large

It is important to remember that achievements and success are similar to building blocks - the pieces result in a large structure. When setting goals, take an approach similar to this in order to gain perspective and remember the big picture. Katie Lyon is the co-founder of Allegiance Flag Supply, an American company offering high-quality American flags. She suggests mindset.

"When sitting in your office or workspace day after day it can be easy to forget the big picture. A dream career or result doesn't manifest itself the instant you imagine it. As you plan for the future, set short term goals that will continue to put you in a position leading towards your long term goals. Patience and continued effort are needed in this but it will yield results."

Expect challenges

Dr. Robert Applebaum is a plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills who constantly strives for top-of-the-line quality. His advice to those setting professional goals is to realize that no matter the undertaking, one should predict issues to arise.

"Even the most well thought out plans don't always go off without a hitch. The unexpected is a very real reality for every person. When it comes to professional goals, things such as burnout, distraction, doubt, or even lack of skill can appear without warning. These are not signs that what you are doing is unworthy. Instead, it's an opportunity to rise up and overcome whatever the difficulty may be. Your end result will be more worthwhile for having done so."

Write them down

Pocketbook Agency is a service dedicated to matchmaking support and administrative candidates with businesses inside the U.S. Their co-founder, Brittany Dolin, considers an effective goal planning technique to record both the set goals and accomplishments as they come.

"Writing down your goals once you set them is an excellent way to keep them at the forefront of your mind. In my opinion, a goal that exists only as a thought is simply a nice idea and not much more. A written goal brings your ideas into the real world. Similarly, as the goals come to fruition, be sure to write down your triumphs. Both of these records can serve as motivation."

Keep a to-do list

Some goals require a multiple part process involving multiple tasks. Goals like this can become confusing to work through. Organization is key to succeeding here and a task list can accomplish this. Ad Hoc Labs operates two telecommunication apps. Burner offers a second phone number for those wishing to remain anonymous while Firewall can block all unwanted calls and texts. Their brand strategist and marketing director, Summer Romasco, believes in this.

"A to-do list is a bit like a GPS on your phone. There's an end goal in mind and the app gives direction for what to do and when to do it in order to arrive at the desired end goal. A well-designed to-list will keep you focused and motivated towards reaching that destination. On top of this, organization is a sure-fire way to manage stress as you're not worried about what comes next."

Identify weak points

William Schumacher is the founder and CEO of Uprising Food, a bread company featuring clean and highly-nutritious products. He suggests that personal evaluation in an effort to find where you can improve is a useful tactic when deciding which goals to tackle.

"Areas of weakness by nature are the areas where you need the most improvement. Do you need some computer specific training? How are your leadership skills? Is it difficult to make financial ends meet? What's causing dissatisfaction within your professional life? Being honest in response to these questions will help you discover ways to elevate yourself and strive towards progress."

Choosing goals for yourself is no easy affair but facing challenges head on is a great move for those looking to get ahead professionally. Being a static employee will surely result in some level of dissatisfaction and changing for the better is incredibly fulfilling once at the finish line. Jeremy Stoppelman, the CEO of Yelp, put it best, "You have to be very nimble and very open minded. Your success is going to be very dependent on how you adapt."