We’ve all heard it a million times before: “New Year, New Me!,” “This is the year I finally reach my goal!”, “This year’s the one for me!”. But therein lies the issue—we hear it every year. This means there’s a disconnect happening—why is it that we have so much trouble sticking to our goals? And what makes us lose motivation only a short amount of time into the year? Today’s blog post will explore setting goals and intentions in the workplace, and how you can make the most of this fresh start!
Setting Goals in the Workplace:
Don’t (Just) Be Hopeful
It’s nice to be hopeful, but simply having high hopes for the new year won’t be enough to help you achieve those workplace dreams. Sit down with yourself, your mentor, or your team and outline clear intentions for the year ahead of you. Instead of saying “2022 is going to be great!”, set out to make it great—and don’t allow yourself to stray from that intention. Being proactive instead of reactive is hugely important for being successful in your career (and life!).
Set Concrete Goals
Perhaps you’ve heard of the S.M.A.R.T method of goal-setting, which states that the most efficient way to achieve your goals is to make sure they are:
S- Specific
M- Measurable
A – Attainable
R- Realistic
T- Time-Sensitive
Whether you prescribe to SMART goals or another method, there’s no denying that you must clearly define the goals you want to achieve. Don’t just say you’ll be “better” at your job, or want to place “more” candidates in roles; set a specific number of placements, and use a numerical amount to more clearly define what you want to do.
Have An Accountability Partner
Of course we’d all like to achieve our goals simply through our own determination, but the truth is that most people struggle to keep up consistent motivation. When you find yourself slipping, having an accountability partner is invaluable to your success. My colleague A.C. and I recently set up a weekly time in our schedules to discuss our marketing goals and objectives and keep each other accountable. This really helps to motivate me, because I don’t want to show up to our meeting with nothing to show for myself. This being said, it’s important to be able to motivate yourself, too. When I struggle staying focused I use the Pomodoro Technique, a time-blocking method that aids in time management and productivity. I can’t recommend it enough!
Ask For Help When You Need It!
No one said you had to achieve your goals 100% by yourself (unless you added that stipulation). At SHR we have meetings at the end of every workday where we discuss what we did and where we’ll focus our efforts moving forward. This not only keeps us accountable to our team but allows us to ask for help when we need it. These meetings nurture our relationships with each other and allow us to reach common and individual goals at a more rapid pace.
Set A Reward for Meeting Your Goals
Once you reach the goal, how will you celebrate? Whether it’s a huge career-defining moment or simply hitting your metrics for the week, find a way to treat yourself and pat yourself on the back. When we set company goals at SHR, our rewards range anywhere from our managing partner, Cody, having to get a mullet to Caribbean vacations! Set rewards that will keep you going, even on the hard days. Who wouldn’t work hard enough to see their boss sport a mullet (or enjoy the beach)?!
Now that I’ve said my piece, it’s time to move forward and get to setting your workplace goals for 2022. It can be tempting to procrastinate setting goals, but once you get on the path to achieving them, you’ll find your workday is more focused and can even fly by! I can’t wait to see what SHR achieves in 2022—and don’t hesitate to reach out to us to help you achieve your goal of finding a new job, or hiring the perfect new candidate!
