While goal setting is nothing new, it is a technique that is used by some of the world's most successful people. Goals allow you to set intentions, which encourages you to plan how to get there and action your plan.

1. Goal setting can improve performance as an employee

2. Goal setting can lead to greater job satisfaction

3. Goal setting can boost your self-esteem and help you realise your value

4. Goal setting can help you align your next career step

5. Goal setting can positively affect your work/life balance

Dr. Edwin Locke and Dr. Gary Latham spent many years researching the theory of goal setting, during which time they identified five elements that need to be in place for us to achieve our goals.

According to Locke and Latham, there are five goal-setting principles that can improve our chances of success:

• Clarity

• Challenge

• Commitment

• Feedback

• Task complexity

If the goals you set (or the goals that are set for you by your superiors) are specific and challenging but not too challenging that you give up, it can lead to higher performance because you become motivated to succeed. 

Having high tenure can be rewarding; however, it can often lead to a job being unchallenging or even boring. There are ways to avoid these feelings, and one way to do so is by setting goals. Goal setting can provide you with more interesting tasks and challenges so you can start to enjoy your work more. They can also push you toward continuous improvement and great satisfaction.

Becoming complacent in a role can lead to symptoms of low confidence and self-sabotage – where you tell yourself that you couldn’t get another role even if you tried. This is where goal setting can help. Goal setting can help motivate you to learn new skills, improving your self-belief and confidence.  

In a candidate-driven market, it can be difficult to know which opportunities to run with and which ones to turn away. Replying to recruiter InMails, applying for new positions or even being part of an interview process can be extremely time-consuming. Having set goals will help you establish which opportunities you need to run with and invest the time in.

Being stuck in a position or company you hate can be stressful, however, not knowing where you’re going next and what actions to take can be an added pressure. Setting goals encourages you to plan exactly what you need to do to move forward and improve. Your goals could include getting a better job or working towards a promotion. Whatever your goals, having them written down is the first step towards achieving them.

It is also important to remember that goal setting doesn't have to include striving for the next best thing. Goal setting may be goals outside of work, such as spending more time with your family.

“I recently read a LinkedIn Post by a recruiter who phoned an individual regarding an opportunity with a view of progression into a higher-level position.  This ‘higher level’ position was at a progressive company, offering more money and potential for further promotion; however, in reply to the recruiter’s exciting opportunity to progress, the individual replies, “I am already at the top of my career.”

Having already researched the candidate’s LinkedIn profile and referenced them, the recruiter knew that the candidate was not at the top of his career in the traditional sense. There were many steps he could take to progress further, which would mean significant benefits for him. The recruiter asked why the opportunity wasn’t of interest, as, on paper, the role appeared to be a great move.

The reply was, ‘I am completely happy at my workplace; my employer is flexible, I never miss an opportunity to be with my children, I like the people I work with, and the money is great. For me, I am at the top of my career.’

Although surprised, the recruiter wholly understood. Being at the ‘Top of your career’ may not mean being a Manager or a C-level employee but more about being completely satisfied in the position you are in. The only person who can weigh up the benefits of one role over another is the person being asked – and their opinion may not be what you expect it to be.

So, the next time you are approached by a recruiter, make sure he or she is sensitive to your individual motivations and remember individual opinions on what constitutes being “at the top”  are limitless.” - Andy Strong, Oakstone Divisional Director.

The key to not abandoning your goals? Check out this blog.