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Five ways to set smarter work goals this year
How to stand out this year
With most organisations kicking off fresh appraisal cycles, employees need to once again set their annual goals.
Brinda Sarkar brings you tips from experts to help you make your performance stand out this year by setting smarter work goals that are better aligned to organisational priorities and your own focus areas.
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Focus on results
Your goals should be outcomeoriented and impactful on key business metrics, says Vikrant Gupta, vice president of human resources at Harman India and Connected Services. “Be sure to call out the areas that you are going to impact. As far as possible, find ways to make your goals ‘measurable’—it makes things easier for both you and your manager at the time of a review,” he says.
Urban Ladder co-founder Rajiv Srivatsa says it is also important to set goals that make you step out of your comfort zone and take on new challenges.
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Keep goals aligned
While specific goals will depend on your exact line of work, in general you should align your goals to the strategy of the organisation you work for, says Nikki Davies, head of diversity and inclusion for APAC at Credit Suisse. "Become familiar with your company’s strategy and that of your manager, as well as your manager’s manager, going up the organisational ladder. Align your goals to their goals for optimal success," she says.
Reskilling should definitely be one of your main goals this year. This will help you stay relevant to your profession and work environment. "The concept of reskilling is the backbone of sustaining business momentum. It ensures you can address the requirements of your company and its customers," says Gupta. Stay focused on bridging skill gaps as well as demonstrating a high degree of learnability and inquisitiveness, he says.
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Keep the dialogue going
It is essential to discuss your goals with your manager and your team. "This dialogue can help you clearly define your goals, and to adjust and change them as the environment changes. Regularly checking with managers and colleagues on how you are progressing with your goals will help maintain momentum," Davies says.
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Concentrate on relevance
Your work goals will be no good unless they are relevant to the company and the environment you are operating in. "Make sure your work goals are relevant by taking the pulse of the industry and your company's performance. It is also important to have good industry mentors who can objectively guide you on future trends," says Urban Ladder’s Srivatsa.
