5 Achieving goals
As well as cultural expectations, you will also have productivity (your task) and results-based (your goals/objectives) expectations. This has arguably become even more important in the hybrid workplace. Without a constant office environment, it can be easy for productivity to slip, particularly if you are faced with distractions at home, or increase if you do not manage your time effectively, as it can be very easy to start to do a few more hours when you don’t have to log off and leave an office. As a consequence, organisations are finding it crucial to set specific goals and results for you to reach.
If you are starting your very first job, having goals to reach can be a scary thought. What if I don’t achieve them? How will I manage these new expectations? These are all valid concerns, but it is important not to get overwhelmed, as most managers will regularly review these with you. A useful trick is to write down your goals, and plan how you will achieve them, categorising them according to what is an immediate actionable task vs those that may take longer. This can help reduce the magnitude of what you are facing, and helps you find a more manageable solution to achieving goals. It can be helpful to set weekly targets, and rank the most important tasks of your week (based on how far they contribute to your goals), meaning you will have a weekly (and daily) plan that will help you keep on top of your tasks and results.
Activity 9 Making goals achievable
A useful and popular approach to making goals achievable is using the SMART acronym. The table below explains what each letter stands for.
| Specific | Be clear and precise about what you need to do and want to achieve. |
| Measurable | How will you know you have achieved the goal? What is the outcome? |
| Achievable | Is the goal realistic? Is it something you can deliver? |
| Relevant | Is the goal required? Why are you doing it and is it a priority? |
| Time limited | What is the deadline for the goal to be achieved? |
Review your current goals to ensure that they are aligned with the SMART goals approach.
Now list the weekly tasks you need to complete in order to achieve these goals. Prioritise these in terms of importance.
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Breaking bigger, longer-term goals into smaller chunks or tasks can make them more achievable. For example, if your long-term goal is to become a line manager, you might have decided that some weekly goals are:
speak to your current line manager about what it entails
search on your workplace intranet for guidance to support line managers
make a list of the relevant skills you already have and those you need to develop
research courses or qualifications that may help you develop the skills you are missing.
However you manage your time, make sure your goals don’t overwhelm you, and always remember you can ask for help if things are getting too much!