Setting career goals can help keep you focused as you know exactly what you’re working towards. It nudges you to be more productive and makes you work wiser as you know which tasks should be prioritized and the ones should be given less importance. And when it comes to having career goals, it’s not enough to identify the things you want to achieve in your professional life. It’s equally important to know the things needed to be done in order to get there.

Be specific and put the details in writing
The first and one of the most important steps when it comes to goal-setting and working towards these goals is to be specific about it. It isn’t enough to just aim for a promotion. Be specific with the kind of role you want to play in the future. Do you want to be a supervisor, or a manager or a COO? Next, be specific with your timeline. When do you want to make these things happen? Do you want the promotion in the next 5 or 7 years? Also, don’t forget to consider the things that will help you get to where you want to be. Does it entail helping on projects that’s beyond your scope or probably taking more training to expand your skill set? Put all of these things in writing and be sure to include all the details.

Improve your career habits
Achieving your bigger goals requires some changes and improvements. There are certain career habits you may need to eliminate and improve if you want to level up in your career. Figure out the things you need to do that will help you get where you want to be in the future. Even if it’s as simple as overcoming your tendency to procrastinate or making sure you come in to work earlier than usual to get a good headstart on your daily routine, every little progress you make creates a huge difference in your career.

Set mini goals in between
Some career goals seem to be far-fetched and overwhelming. This is the reason why some people just give up on them. But don’t lose heart. It’s all a matter of setting mini goals along your journey - tiny goals that will help you get to where you want to be. Besides looking at what you want to accomplish in the next five years, try to set monthly, quarterly and yearly goals. Do something every day, every week and every month - just anything that will help you grow your career.

Ready to take on a new challenge and up your game in your career? Follow these tips to help you achieve your future career goals!