Defining tangible, specific career goals based on the SMART framework sets you up for success. By making your objectives Strategic, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound, you can effectively set priorities and benchmark progress. Follow these best practices for crafting and accomplishing SMART career goals that get results.
Make Goals Strategic
Your career goals should align with your broader vision and interests while filling skills gaps. Ask yourself:
- What value will this goal add to my career?
- How does it move me closer to my aspirations?
- What abilities will it develop?
Choose goals that bolster high-demand skills in your industry or company to boost your marketability and options. Look for strategic opportunities to elevate your expertise.
Establish Measurable Metrics
Define specific, quantitative metrics and indicators of success so you can evaluate achievement. Possible measures include:
- Completing set training courses or certifications
- Reaching quantitative targets like revenue, customers or projects
- Getting promoted to a particular role
- Receiving raises or bonuses of a certain amount
- Obtaining a degree or other credential
- Publishing or presenting a number of articles or talks
Metrics provide clarity on the scope of the goal and progress made. Track relevant data to stay accountable.
Set Attainable, Realistic Goals
The goals you set should push you professionally but also be reasonably achievable within the target timeframe. Evaluate whether each goal is reachable given your:
- Current skills, experience and qualifications
- Available company resources and budget
- Access to needed mentors, training and networks
- Bandwidth among your other responsibilities
Be ambitious but honest about your capabilities so you set yourself up for success. Break extensive goals into incremental steps.
Ensure Relevance to Needs
Your goals should be relevant to your company’s or team’s priorities and direction. Ask:
- How will this help achieve key results or initiatives?
- Does it address any developmental gaps or opportunities I’ve been given?
- Is it valued based on feedback or performance reviews?
Aligning your goals demonstrates you’re a strategic team player as well as building your own skills proactively.
Assign Deadlines
Every goal needs a specific, realistic completion date to create urgency and focus your efforts.
Consider factors like:
- Projected timeline for necessary steps
- Availability of mentors, collaborators or resources
- Workloads and competing priorities
- Registration timing for training programs
Hold yourself accountable to defined deadlines for maximum productivity. But allow flexibility to adjust if major changes occur.
Document Goals for Clarity
Maintaining a written career development plan with SMART goals, metrics, needed actions and deadlines provides clarity. You can reference and revise it regularly.
Share defined goals with your manager at review time to welcome input and secure buy-in on your growth trajectory.
Outline Action Plans
For each goal, detail tangible action steps required and by when – such as completing particular training, building certain skills, taking on relevant projects, networking with target leaders, compiling work samples or portfolio pieces.
Define plans strategically to set yourself up for eventual success. Break down large goals into manageable milestones with mini-deadlines.
Prioritize Efficiently
While ambition is admirable, realistically you can only tackle a few developmental goals at once. Carefully prioritize based on importance, resources required and deadlines.
Focus first on addressing skills gaps, career blockers or easy wins to build momentum. Schedule time for priority goals.
Leverage Available Resources
Determine what resources, tools, networks, coaches and programs could support your goals and proactively secure access.
Ask leaders for support. Apply for company training and mentoring opportunities. Seek communities and education aligned with growth areas.
Review and Adjust Goals
Revisit your SMART career goals often to update statuses, adjust timelines if needed, add metrics and assign new action steps as previous ones are accomplished.
Be flexible – growth often comes from unexpected opportunities. But stay focused on the endpoint. Revise goals based on changing priorities and feedback.
Celebrate Achievements
Acknowledging goal progress, both small wins and major milestones, motivates you to keep developing. Recognize your hard work and promotions that come from achieving growth goals.
Reward yourself for demonstration dedication to career advancement and self-improvement.
Investing concentrated effort into well-defined, SMART career development goals drives meaningful professional growth. Stay agile but persistent, and continuously refine and expand your goals to achieve enduring career success.