5.2: Establishing Clear Goals and Action Plans

Setting and achieving career goals is a fundamental aspect of professional development. Writing out goals serves as a crucial first step in this process. When individuals articulate their goals clearly, it provides a tangible target to strive for, helping to focus efforts and resources effectively. Written goals act as a roadmap, offering direction and clarity, making it easier to track progress and stay motivated.

Furthermore, creating action plans is essential for translating these written goals into reality. Action plans break down long-term objectives into manageable steps, outlining specific tasks and timelines to achieve each goal. This approach clarifies the path forward and helps identify potential challenges and resources needed along the way. By mapping out the steps, individuals can systematically work toward their career aspirations, ensuring that each milestone achieved brings them closer to their ultimate objectives.

Writing Goal Statements

Writing a well-defined goal is the foundation for goal achievement. Using the “SMART” method ensures all the essential elements of well-defined goals are included in each goal statement. The SMART goal statement is:

• S: Specific
• M: Measurable and Meaningful
• A: Action-oriented and Achievable
• R: Realistic and Responsible
• T: Timed and Toward What You Want

Let us take a closer look at the necessary components of a SMART goal.

Specific

A specific goal is a detailed, particular or focused goal. A goal is specific when everyone knows exactly what will be achieved and accomplished. A simple goal is easier to understand and involves spelling out the details of the goal in simple terms.

For example, “Get better grades in my course” is simple but vague. “Study my course assignments for one hour each weekday” is more specific and simpler.

Imagine your goal as specifically as you can. Ask: Who, where, what, when, how… specifically!

Measurable and Meaningful

Measurable goals are quantifiable and provide the evidence to show you that you have achieved your goal. A measurable goal provides a means of comparison that indicates when the goal is reached.

For example, words like “better” or “faster” are not quantifiable. “Improve my course grades by 10%” provides a clear measure for a goal.

Goals need to be meaningful to you! How does having the goal fit with who you are and who you want to become? Is the goal in alignment with your values? Ask yourself: “Is this goal an expression of who I really want to be?”

For example, achieving 80% in your course may provide you with a sense of pride and value in the things you are learning.

Action-oriented and Achievable

Action-oriented goals indicate an activity or performance. You are doing something that produces results. Action verbs describe the type of activity that you are performing. Examples of action verbs are listed in Table 5.1:

Achievable goals are self-maintained; the achievement of the goal is up to you alone. Many aspects of life are dependent upon other aspects. Your goal should speak to things that you have control over.

If it is part of a larger team’s goal strategies, then the other members of your team need to have goals that support the overall strategy. However, you need to be able to execute your goal. It is essential that you can say, “I can do it!”  Ask yourself: “What will I do to reach this goal?”

Realistic and Responsible

Realistic goals are practical and possible. Realistic goals are a balance between what is hard and what is easy to achieve. They require a “stretch” that reaches beyond what is easily achieved and establishes a more challenging goal. That little bit extra in performance makes people progress and improve. “Stretching” creates the necessary balance between the effort required to achieve the goal and the probability of success.

For example, do you have the learning resources to increase your grade by 10%? You may require access to tutoring or additional resources. What will be required for you to reach this goal?

Responsible goals ask us to check the consequences of achieving our goals relative to our lives and relationships. This is best accomplished by setting goals in all areas of your life at the same time! Consider your overall life goals and your long-term career and personal goals. Be sure to consider what you want to achieve regarding work, learning, family, relationships, health, etc.

For example, your learning goal to improve your course grade by 10% needs to be in harmony with your work, family and health values and goals. Otherwise, your goals in one or more of these areas may need to be sacrificed in order for you to achieve your learning goal.

Ask yourself: “Who (what) else does this goal affect?”

Timed and Toward What You Want

Timed goals mean that they are scheduled. There is a finite duration to your effort, a deadline. People generally put off doing things if no deadline is set because human nature always finds something else to do along the way.

For example, “by the end of June” is more specific than “toward the end of June.” However, the most precise statement is on June 30.

“Toward what you want” is the final consideration in designing a goal. The human psyche will pursue internal mental images, whether negative or positive. You will have more energy and motivation if you move toward something you want rather than away from something you don’t. Write down what you want.  Ask: “What would I rather have? What do I want?”

An Example of a SMART Goal

For example, if your personal desire is: “I would like to learn a foreign language so that I can travel to different parts of the world and experience new cultures.” A possible goal statement would be:

“Learn the French language with sufficient fluency so that I can carry on a complete conversation with a French teacher by June 30 at a cost of no more than $200.”

Writing a SMART goal is a very important part of the client’s goal achievement as it lays the foundation for goal development and implementation.

Identification of the Action Steps Needed to Reach Goals

The final task of the goal-setting process is to create an action plan. The plan details the activities and actions necessary to accomplish the goal. An action plan organizes your thoughts into steps that you can take to move forward.  The purpose of the action plan is to provide order and organization to the details required to reach each goal. The action planning worksheets shown here are designed to help you create a road map for goal accomplishment. Employment coaches often help clients fill out action planning worksheets that give them insights into the immediate steps needed to achieve their goals.

Examples of Goal Setting and Action Planning Worksheets

River was asked to fill out a goal-setting worksheet during the employment counselling sessions. This exercise was eye-opening for River. Writing down their goal provided River with a tangible target. The next step was to break the goal into smaller, manageable tasks using the action-planning worksheets. With the help of their employment coach, River identified specific steps they needed to take to achieve their dream. River listed tasks such as learning more about running a business, researching local outfitting services, developing a mentor relationship with an expert, interviewing fishermen to understand their needs, and acquiring skills in business management.

By mapping out these steps, River could see a clear path forward. The worksheets helped River to prioritize their actions and set realistic timelines for each task. The goal-setting and action-planning worksheets kept River focused and motivated throughout this journey. Each completed task brought River one step closer to their dream. The process also helped them identify potential challenges and find solutions proactively. River’s story is a testament to the power of clear goal-setting and detailed action planning in achieving one’s aspirations. Let’s assume that River has identified the following SMART goal:

SMART Goal Statement: I will have had 25 face-to-face career network meetings by July 1.

Tables 5.2, 5.3, and 5.4 map out the tasks that River must accomplish to attain their SMART goal.

Major Task #1: Develop a personal brand statement and proof stories (stories demonstrating the client’s capabilities and strengths by highlighting their accomplishments).

Major Task #2: Update Resume and LinkedIn profile

Major Task #3: Organize information for my contacts, set dates, and meet people!

For outcomes, River must specify if they have been completed, cancelled, or brought forward. They must also indicate if the outcomes are in progress.

Download the Goal Setting and Action Planning Sheet and use it with your students.