“If you don’t know where you are going, you will wind up somewhere else.” — Yogi Berra
Goals are extremely important in every aspect of our lives. They give us direction, purpose, and satisfaction. At work, we use goals to help keep us on track and to be sure we are aligned with others on our team. You may be writing your goals for FY16 right now. If you are, here are a few pointers that can help.
A goal is a task, project, or activity that is to be accomplished within a certain period of time. Your professional goals should be based on two things: the goals of your organization and department, and your job description.
The Goals of Your Organization and Department
Start by reviewing the goals of your organization and department. If you don’t know what they are, ask your manager for this information. Ask yourself, “How can I help my department or organization to accomplish their goals?” The goals of your organization should influence the goals of your department, which should influence your own personal goals. In other words, the goals should “cascade down.”
Organization’s goals –> Department’s goals –> Your goals
This ensures that everyone in the organization is aligned and working together.
Your Job Description
When writing your goals, it’s also important to read your job description. It should accurately describe the essential functions, tasks, and responsibilities of your job. If your job description is unavailable or out-of-date, talk to your manager or HR representative to get it updated. Ask yourself these questions:
- What are the most important components of my job?
- How am I expected to act with clients, colleagues, and managers?
- What processes or methods am I expected to use?
- What are some areas that I need to improve on?
Reviewing your organization’s and department’s goals, and your own job description should help you generate ideas about the tasks, projects, or activities that you’d like to accomplish in FY16.
