The annual review: we have all done it with our managers every new fiscal year. We fill out our “Individual Development Plan” (IDP) or goal sheets to get an idea of the big picture for ourselves at work. This is an opportunity for the managers and employees together to go over a basic SWOT analysis of our past performance and what objectives we have for the future. For the ambitious, this would be a time to talk with your manager to see what you can do this year to gain some experience, or even possible promotions.
Now this review is common in the business world, but why do we not put an individual development plan (IDP) or goal sheet together for our own personal life.
Before we get into tips on how to put together your very own goal sheet for Life, we need to fully understand why we should have one. We always hear if you have goals, write them down, and it’s not just a suggestion but fact. Dr. Gail Matthews, a psychology professor at Dominican University of California, conducted a study on goal-setting with 267 participants. She found that you are 42% more likely to achieve your goals just by writing them down. Writing down your goals helps give you clarity in what you are trying to accomplish. It will also show you the WHY you are doing what you are doing even on the days you don’t even want to get out of bed. It will be your map when you get lost. It will get you motivated and keep you moving forward.
Ready to get started? Great! This then is how you can set goals into place for an IDP:
- Start NOW: Write down what you want, when you want it and how you plan to get there. It will take time to achieve many of your goals. Include WHY you want each goal because it will keep you grounded and remind you why you wanted to achieve it in the first place
- Take baby steps: Break your different goals and aspirations down into simple tasks with realistic time lines. Again be patient but consistent in doing something each day.
- Learn from the best: We all make mistakes along the way and sometimes we place ourselves in a corner all alone dwelling on the fact that we failed. Read as much as you can about as many successful people as you can. They have all failed at some point in their lives and sometimes way more than we could ever imagine. Get a mentor, who is someone you can call when times are hard and also someone to celebrate your small victories even when you don’t see them yourself.
- Be accountable to your success: You have to be responsible for your own movement forward in your plan. No one else will accomplish it for you and no one will be willing to help without seeing you working hard for it first.
- Be humble and grateful in your plan: Make sure you work your plan ethically. As you grow and become successful have plans on how to give back, help those who have helped you along the way. Say THANK YOU! If you step on people on your way up, you will face them again on your way down.”
- Recognize your worth: This is very difficult because we are our own worst critics. What do you have to give? What are your greatest talents? How can you leverage those talents? Doing a self-inventory is a big part of how to put your plan and goals into action.
- Be true to yourself and what you are passionate about. Make sure the goals and plans you put together are true to who you are and what you are passionate about. If you love what you do for a career, you will never work another day in your life.
- Last but not least NEVER GIVE UP! If goals were easy then everyone would be a millionaire or a rock star! You will have periods of ups and downs. Life will hand you lemons and you will need to add sugar, heck maybe a lot of sugar, to keep moving forward. It will balance out if you put in the effort.
The goals you set for yourself are what separate the sailboats from the boat without a paddle. The sail-boat will hit harsh winds, no wind or the perfect wind and will be prepared for whatever comes. The boat without a paddle will just drift through life wondering what the wind will bring next. This method of goal setting will help future students or student-workers to stay afloat even under the pressure of the job and school. This technique would be even more helpful to accomplish goals that are not actually defined or that are left to an individual’s judgment, in online programs. While working full time and studying at home, students occasionally may lose sight of the final objective, which is to graduate and get the degree or the certificate that he or she needs for a career boost. Bama At Work recommends all its students apply this goal-setting technique, underpinned with strong organizational skills, to succeed in their Online programs. We offer more than 46 online certificates and 190 online courses, to allow students all over the world to attend certificate courses and boost their career without leaving their homes.
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Article by Kelly Fuhlman, Director of Social Media for World Education , and is personally involved in helping others make a better life for themselves through education. World Education is one of the main partner of the University of Alabama for Online Certificate Programs.
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