Professional development goals are practical plans to guide your career and achieve growth and professional success. The rewards of achieving professional goals include diverse career opportunities, higher remuneration or promotion potential and the ability to explore new skills and interests that might change your direction. But if you’re planning on goal setting in your professional life, make sure you’re doing it SMART!
Why Set Professional Development Goals?
There are many reasons why professional development goals are important. You can’t see where you’re going without a plan, and a career with no direction is risky. You could fall into a career rut, be demoted or experience sudden redundancy – and without a plan for career progression, it leaves you vulnerable when it comes to employability.
Provides direction for your future
You might know what you want to do next year, but what about in the next decade? Do you have long-term career goals? Setting clear, smart goals for your career means having a professional plan.
You’re prepared to embrace change
If you have a career plan outside your current role, you’ll be better prepared for anything thrown at you in your professional life. If, for example, you’re put forward for a promotion, you’ll have a professional development portfolio at the ready to help you secure the position. At the other end of the spectrum is redundancy! It’s not ideal, but you’ll be better prepared if you have a professional development portfolio to apply for new jobs at the last minute.
Diversify your skillset
Whether it’s a future career change, starting your own business or promotion, regularly developing news skills provides options and leaves you open to new opportunities.
“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” ― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
Tips for Smart Goals (Professional Development)
If you’re going to set goals, you might as well be smart about it! The best tip for smart goals, set SMART goals! You’ll considerably increase your chances of achieving the goal successfully. Use the SMART goal strategy.
S – Specific
Specific goals are in-depth, written ideas (or recorded) details of the plan you hope to achieve. Think of this as the mission statement for your goal. You should aim to answer the following W questions – who, what, when, where, which, why!
M – Measurable
Your goal should be measurable. How else will you know if you’ve achieved it or are on your way to success? This makes your goal tangible – you’re measuring progress. Measurement methods can be quantitative (productivity results, money saved) or qualitative (client Google reviews, surveys).
A – Achievable
Your goal should be realistic. Think about how you’ll accomplish the goal (do you have the resources and skills required?) A smart goal is always achievable.
R – Relevant
Does the goal align with your career plans or personal development aspirations? If the goal is relevant, you’re much more likely to succeed.
T – Time-Sensitive
If your goal lacks realistic timing, you’re planning to fail. Make realistic timeframes for setting the goal deadline. If a goal will take six months to achieve, it’s important to define what should be completed at the halfway point and will ensure a sense of urgency.
Examples of Professional Development Goals
- Attend industry events in [field], to grow my professional networks twice per year.
- Enrol in an online course in time management to improve my productivity in the workplace
- Subscribe to a monthly industry magazine for twelve months, and read on the first weekend of every month
- Submit an application for a promotion at work within the next six months
- Read two professional development/personal empowerment books a year
- Listen to one TED talk on [industry/skills] a week, while driving to and from work
- Take a course in leadership to increase opportunities for promotion in management roles
- Improve communication skills in the workplace
- Develop a growth mindset
- Manage your energy for great motivation and productivity
- Attend a workshop that improves your current skills or brings you one step closer to your dream career
If our tips for smart goals have inspired you to pursue professional development, make sure you choose the right course for you. Talk to one of our helpful Learning Consultants today on 1300 76 2221, Live Chat or Enquire Online.
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