Glassdoor* says being goal orientated doesn’t come naturally to everyone but, everyone can get better at it. Glassdoor provides five concrete steps to becoming more goal oriented at work.
There are a bevy of benefits to being a goal-oriented person: As the term suggests, goal-oriented people are more driven and accomplish more goals — and those are both valuable and desirable qualities of an employee in any industry, and at any level.
So, if you would like to be more goal oriented at work, here is everything you need to know in order to adopt a goal-oriented mindset.
What does being goal oriented mean?
Being goal-oriented is being focused on reaching a specific objective or accomplishing a task.
When it comes to being goal-oriented at work, a goal-oriented person is driven by purpose and can focus (e.g., zero in) on the tasks at hand, getting them done efficiently.
In other words, goal-oriented employees plan their time and energy so that they can see results.
They planned and organised their tasks, then complete them, wasting little time on the things that won’t ultimately help them accomplish both their short-term and long-term goals at work.
A person might be naturally goal-oriented, or they might hone skills that help them be more goal-oriented. (Luckily, we’ll walk you through how to hone those skills and be goal-oriented below!)
Why is it important to be goal oriented?
Employers in any industry want to see results.
And goal-oriented employees — who are focused on accomplishing tasks and meeting their goals — are more likely to get those results.
To meet goals, employees also have to have other valuable skills: excellent at time management, planning and organisation, and motivated.
All of these skills are also particularly attractive to employers.
But even beyond making your employer happy, it’s good for you to be goal-oriented.
The more goals you accomplish, the more qualitative results you can add to your resume.
And that can help you achieve even more goals — whether that’s justifying a new raise or snagging a promotion.
Five ways to be more goal oriented at work
Being goal-oriented doesn’t come naturally to everyone.
If you are not naturally goal-oriented at work, here are five ways you can keep yourself on track toward your work-related goals.
- Practice planning.
It’s not enough to have a goal; you have to know what it will take to accomplish it.
That’s where planning comes in: For each goal you set, sit down and write down every task that needs to be done to meet the goal.
These might be short-term tasks — such as sending an email or purchasing a supply — or long-term projects, such as completing a course or landing a new client.
Once you know the steps you need to take to meet your goal, you can organise those steps to use your time most effectively.
- Manage your timeTime-management is the ability to plan and prioritize your time, and it’s key to meeting your goals.
To manage your time effectively, you need to know how long your plan will execute, then assign any tasks accordingly to make the most of your time and energy. (Sometimes, it’s helpful to assign tasks on a calendar or write your to-do list in order of the time of day you need to accomplish each thing.)
Don’t forget to schedule breaks; they can help you refocus and regroup before starting your next task.
- Track your progressJust like you need to know the steps necessary to reach your goal, goal-oriented people also know where they stand about their goals.
In other words, they take the time to evaluate if they’re on track and decide whether they need to pivot or reallocate their time and resources to reach their goal.
Be sure to schedule periodic check-ins with yourself and honestly answer the question: Am I where I need to be to meet my goal? If the answer is no, it’s time to re-evaluate your plan and make needed changes.
- Keep yourself accountableGoal-oriented people don’t necessarily have will powers of steel. Instead, they stay accountable to themselves.
If you struggle with motivation and accountability, then consider getting an accountability buddy — a coworker or friend who is willing to help you stay motivated by checking in with you every day.
You’ll update them on your progress, and they’ll help boost your motivation toward your goal.
- Stay positiveMeeting your goals can be tough work! But staying positive can make the work toward your goals a little easier.
When you’re working toward a goal, give yourself positive affirmations, such as, “You can do it!” or “You’ve got this!”
Or create a vision board you can look at, and that will remind you of why you want to reach your goal.
For example, if you’re vying for a raise, perhaps a picture of a beach — where you plan to take a vacation with that money— will keep you motivated and help you stay positive.
*Glassdoor is one of the world’s largest job and recruiting websites.
This article first appeared at glassdoor.com
