Personal Development Goals for Work: Be Happier and Healthier

Whether you’re managing others or focusing on your own personal growth, it’s a great idea to set personal development goals at work. This post will give you some ideas for making your employees happier and healthier.

This prevents you from settling for less than you’re capable of. You need to set ambitious goals that can be measured and have a deadline. The sample goals that follow are written in general terms, so customize them as you see fit (i.e., make them SMART).

Examples of Personal Development Goals for Work

1. Define your priorities

Which tasks do you want to focus on while at work? How does your career fit into your personal life (work-life balance)? These are priorities you might want to explore and define.

SMART Goal Examples

• “Leave the office no later than 5:15 every day.”
• “Spend no more than 1 hour a day replying to emails.”

2. Discover your values

The true definition of “success” is living a life consistent with your values. If your job undermines the principles that are important to you, you’ll be miserable. So take some time to think about what you value, and then write it down as a reminder.

SMART Goal Examples

• “Laugh with a coworker at least once a day.” (Value: Humor)
• “Find a new way to complete X task every week.” (Value: Creativity)

3. Define your ethics

On a similar note, it’s helpful to be clear about what you will and won’t do in the workplace.

Examples (Not Necessarily SMART Goals)

• “Never engage in gossip with coworkers.”
• “Be honest about my workload with my boss and coworkers.”

4. Develop your strengths and expertise3

Studies have generally found that it’s better to build on your strengths rather than fix your weaknesses. Professional development is important — not only because it can lead to promotions, but because you need to continue challenging and stimulating your brain as you grow older. Many people stop learning once they get comfortable with a job, and this is a surefire way to let your brain atrophy.

SMART Goal Examples

• “Read at least one book about my profession1 every month.”
• “Attend a workshop or seminar at least once a year.”

5. Improve your emotional intelligence

Researcher Daniel Goleman has found that IQ only predicts a tiny amount of one’s success. Instead, the people who succeed in the workplace are those with high emotional intelligence — those adept at listening, understanding, relating, and empathizing with other people. What’s interesting about this: emotional intelligence is a learnable skill.

6. Improve communication and teamwork1

This is closely related to improving your emotional intelligence. By improving communication, I mean speaking clearly about your responsibilities and expectations. Your coworkers and subordinates should know exactly what’s expected of them; not only how to do their task, but hownot to — as well as their deadline.

I’m defining “teamwork” here as cohesiveness and camaraderie. This can be developed through clear communication that promotes a sense of trust. Compliment your coworkers on a job well done. Give them permission to make mistakes — as long as they’re not the result of negligence. Ironically, people are less likely to screw up when the consequences aren’t as severe. Otherwise, the pressure tends to make them self-conscious.

SMART Goal Examples

• “Compliment my coworkers on the quality of their work at least once a day.”
• “When delegating a task, tell the person how to do it, how not to do it, and when I need the task done by.” (Technically not a SMART goal, but still very effective.)

7. Manage stress effectively

Stress is best managed through prevention: understanding what stresses you out and avoiding those situations entirely. When you can’t avoid the stress, however, try taking mindful breaths. Focus on the present moment and not what might happen in the future. It also helps tremendously to talk to a friend or family member. And to learn more scientifically proven techniques, download my book!

Examples (Not Necessarily SMART Goals)

• “Avoid jobs/situations that I know will stress me out.”
• “Practice mindfulness when I notice myself feeling stressed.”

8. Manage your time and stop multitasking

Multitasking is the single biggest killer of productivity. When you switch back and forth between several tasks, your brain needs some time to get caught up and figure out where you left off. Prevent this by focusing on one task at a time. Don’t stop until the task is complete or you need a break. I suggest that you start the workday by completing the most important and most valuable task on your agenda — something that will definitely make you, or your company, money. Again, don’t stop until the task is complete or you need a break.

9. Become a better listener

It actually takes a lot of skill and practice to be a great listener. Active listening involves listening intently to the other person, and then restating what you heard and confirming that you understand them correctly. You can increase your effectiveness even further by identifying the emotion they feel and then responding to it appropriately. By becoming a better listener, you’ll improve the quality of your work relationships, which means that you’ll enjoy better friendships and get support when you need it most.

Examples (Not Necessarily SMART Goals)

• “Paraphrase the instructions I get from my boss to ensure I understand her correctly.”
• “Notice when my coworkers are upset and speak calmly to avoid agitating them further.”

 Resource:http://sooniwill.be/