How to set achievable goals – and actually hit them

IF you've entered the new working year with high ambitions to take your career to the next level but without a strong action plan, you'll soon find yourself back to the daily grind and buried under the same workhorse tasks you had aimed to move on from.

- TIFFANY UMAN

(Freepik)

Goals without action are simply ideas and the biggest risk you can take is staying too close to your comfort zone. If your goals don't scare you at least a little, you aren't pushing yourself towards your fullest potential. To move from "dreamer" to "action taker", peak performers recognise that goals must be paired with measurable actions.

Here are some strategies to set achievable goals that drive tangible results:

Reverse engineer

When thinking about your professional growth and where you want to be, start by looking six months into the future and envisioning yourself already there. Then work backwards to figure out the steps you need to take to get you to that goal.

Firstly, consider the high-stakes conversations you hope to handle with confidence in the future. How will you articulate your value in one-on-ones, or build influence with senior leaders? Reflect on how you want these interactions to look and sound.