You are clear about your goal. Crystal clear. You’ve got the vision, the tall order that will take you where no man, woman, department, or business has gone before. Your goal may not be audacious or sound that lofty, but it is your goal. Own it. Whether it is opening a new business unit, advancing within your company, or rolling out a new product, you’ve decided that this is the right path. You’ve vetted it and you are committed to it.
What’s next? Give it teeth. What are the specific, measurable, and actionable things you can do to make it happen? Research has long supported that writing down your goals makes it more likely that you’ll achieve them.
What are the potential obstacles you’ll face? What is likely to get in your way?
A thorough assessment of yourself can prevent problems down the road. You can be your own worst enemy.
Having just returned from the annual international Career Partners International meeting, I’m reminded how global we are. We can think locally, but we should always think globally. The business or job you are pursuing may have competition or alliances that change how you should approach the situation. If you are thinking of starting a new business in your town or pursuing a job in another market, consider the globe.
Most of the time industry knowledge can be helpful. It can also blind you. You may benefit from an outside industry perspective.
As an example, if you have worked in manufacturing and are now considering a change to consulting, what can you learn from other industries?
At this point, I’ve raised more questions than answers. That was my intent.
If your goal is crystal clear, ask yourself why? Then ask what will get in your way.
Gerriann Fagan, SPHR founded Career Partners International – Birmingham in 2001. She provides career, coaching and leadership development solutions throughout AL and MS. She holds an M.A. from Univ. of MN and a B.S. from U of I. She is certified in several assessments including Birkman, Hogan, Lominger and MBTI. She has a passion for helping clients achieve individual and organizational success at every age and business stage.
Career Partners International provides top quality talent management services to organizations of all sizes. Their offices around the world help assess, engage, develop, and transition talent in any industry. To find out more about Career Partners International and how you can maximize your organizational performance, reach out to an office near you or contact us today!