When there is no certainty, planning seems absurd. Whether it is an overwhelming sense of career uncertainty or our ever-changing times, it is okay to feel like it is a lot to make plans for. But without them how can we move? Is it better to dive into the unknown without an idea of what we would like to get out of it? Or are there ways to create plans and goals that won’t be affected by these changes in the wind?
Maybe you thought about it and even talking about setting goals leaves you with an anxious feeling. Not knowing what to do, or where to go can be unsettling. And through the last couple of years, I think we can all agree that there is no feeling like having all your life’s plans wiped out by a wave of unplanned events. We went through the grieving of our old lives. Some of us went through a stage of let’s just see where the wind takes us, but that doesn’t suffice for long.
We found new ways to be and work. But are we following the path that we want? are we moving towards our professional destination? or are we at the expense of the circumstances? It is okay to get back on our feet first after all that happened in the last couple of years. Afterward, the time will come to find our new north and create the path to it. You may be wondering how… so, here we have some tips for you.
Keep a growth mindset
Yes, it feels a little strange to set a list of goals when you don’t know for sure what is going to happen. But let’s be realistic, we were never able to know for sure what was going to happen either. If we see our goals as a guideline rather than a to-do list, we might be able to enjoy the process a little more.
Having a growth mindset can help you frame those goals in a flexible and reachable way. Finding a learning opportunity everywhere we go and look at every experience as something that can be used to get closer to your end. A goal that is set with a growth mindset prioritizes getting better at something over being good at it. When you have a goal to be good at something, once you feel like you got it, there is no room to keep improving. Develop a strategy, improve communication, grow professionally, and become a better leader; those are goals with a strong growth mindset foundation. They can help you find a way to define where you want to go and leave a plethora of open paths to get there, which is ideal when times seem to change so often.
Find a purpose
When you have a set goal and circumstances change drastically, it might be hard to maintain the same path under different circumstances. Rather than making the goal a fixed image of what you want to achieve, why don’t you try to go beyond and find a purpose that can fuel you with motivation on the days you don’t want to get out of bed? When you create a purpose setting goals is like breaking down the steps to fulfill that purpose in smaller parts, so it will be easier.
Imagine it this way, it is not about being a good manager, to be precise it is more a thing of becoming a better leader. Being a good manager or getting to a certain job in a given amount of time is a goal that could fall short, or be at the expense of uncontrollable circumstances. On the other hand, becoming a better leader talks about making personal progress. It is a goal that could survive uncertain times, and fulfilling that purpose is having a vision of constant improvement. The smaller goals that could derive from it can be flexible to the reality you are in at any time.
Be flexible
We all want things to go our way. Sometimes we are lucky enough to have it like that, and some other times we are not. We can grow as we go and have a plan, but if the plan is too strict, if there is no space to move as the circumstances require us; then you might be setting yourself up for frustration. We don’t know what may happen, but we are aware that things might not stay the same for a long time.
As the saying goes: “A reed before the wind lives on, while mighty oaks do fall.” When you are feeling overwhelmed and uncertain, nothing good comes from trying to be like the mighty oaks. If you learn to move with the wind, without losing sight of your north, you can become a better version of that professional. Understanding that times change and plans need to be flexible is a wisdom that we all needed to absorb and the pandemic helped most of us with it.
Make them smart
There is no better way to turn a dream into a reality or a goal into a plan than by making them S.M.A.R.T. A smart goal needs to be specific, so you should take that purpose and think of a small and specific way to grow closer to it. Finding a perfect step one or two is no piece of cake, but specificity can make it reachable. You also need to design them measurably. Ask yourself, how will I know that I accomplished my goal? look for what are the signs that might tell you that beforehand. So you can be aware of your progress.
A smart goal is achievable. Nothing like going to the moon without a rocket. When creating those steps to develop into your purpose, you need to be sure of how achievable is to do it in the way you are intending to. That allows you to change the course if it is a little off. Then you have to check if it is relevant. Evaluate if the step you are going to take is going to drive you forward and if it is worth your time and effort. This is about making sure the benefits are perceivable and the costs tolerable. Finally, you need your goals to be time-bound. Yes, you are going to become a better leader so you might set a communication goal. How long is it going to take to improve that skill? how are you going to do it? you need a time frame not only to hold yourself accountable and have a personal deadline to meet or prioritize but to have a place where you can stop and check to see how is everything going and if you still have the same wants and needs.
Check and Adjust
Being flexible and putting things into perspective allows you to flow with the river. Uncertainty doesn’t have to be an awful thing. You can be prepared for it by leaving some room for error or setbacks. Since there are many possibilities for any given path and some simple changes in the circumstances can create different outcomes, finding those moments to review are key to the process.
Of course, you don’t need to be checking up on your progress every two days, nor with a frequency that won’t let you improve at your natural pace without feeling like you are falling behind. Part of making a goal smart is to frame it in time. And that can be a bit of pressure for some but it needs to be that way, so you can ensure it. But what if your goal is a medium or long-term goal?
Those are more susceptible to uncertainty. To plan goals like that it is important to establish some points along the road to stop and check. Just like those in the video games where your character stopped and saved your progress. Having those moments planned out along the way can help you focus on achieving the goal from progress point to progress point and take those moments to check where you are, and how you have been doing, and adjust your journey to your current reality or needs. You might start a goal by working at a company and midway through achieving it start to work freelance, that is a change that can affect how you reach that goal. And being flexible enough to recognize that and adapting the plan accordingly is the best you can do to guarantee success and satisfaction.
Prioritize sustainability
Recharge. Enjoy the process. Reach out if you need help. Share with others. Be patient. Take precautions. Learn to adapt. A good goal is one that can be carried on until its achievement. Set them and frame them in a way that allows you to keep going for as long as you need to. Remember to rest and take care of yourself, there is no goal to be achieved if you are too tired or burnt out to go for it. Keep it healthy, keep it sustainable. There is no career without life, and there is no accomplishment without health.
Uncertain times can be draining, more so when you want to develop and accomplish new challenges in your career, or even your personal life. Setting goals doesn’t have to be a burden or a scary thing. You can make it happen and build a path that you enjoy walking. A path that you can adapt to whatever life throws at you… So, what are you waiting for to set them right?
