Empowering Professionals – Article 1A - Template for Professional Goal Setting

Background

Last year I had collated a bit of information on goal setting and by adding some life experience attempted to share what I had understood and followed in an Article on Empowering Profession- A series of 15 articles till date. The 1st article was on some life shares and goal setting.

In some of the personal coaching, I learnt that for those who do this for the 1st time or even those who are doing it for some time – to improve the results one wants, a template with a bit of explanation maybe more effective and could help. The link to the earlier article is as under:

https://hiregange.com/a/professional-empowerment-series-background-goal-setting-article1

Why a Template?

It is a way of capturing the thoughts and ideas about what one wishes to do in their life, to get clear on one’s goals, not stopping at the 1st obstacle, and being able to track and monitor the same at periodic intervals. It is a timebound plan/ structure which should work for most of us. The use of the tools available like reminders enhances the favourable results.

Content of Template – can be customized for self

1.      Heading to the Excel Template: Goals, Vision & dreams - (Put the name of the amazing person- you are) – May 2021 – Make it bold, bigger fonts and in the color you love. Reason: this is your life on the canvas- we would be looking at every day or at regular intervals. If it leads to feelings and emotions arising each time – it would feed and nurture our very powerful subconscious mind.

2.      Column 1- Goals/ Vision/ Dream in the sequence of its importance. These should be SMART – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant & Time-Bound. It should also be inspiring to you and incidentally for others. Illustration: Build the capability of 100, 000 Chartered Accountant in GST service in 2-3 years. The goal adapted by the Indirect Tax Committee of ICAI in 2017 is taken as an example. Test whether SMART compliant for yourself. The goal was inspiring for the IDTC members as well as the professionals who heard this who were at that time concentrating on Income tax and other areas- not in indirect taxes. Watching motivational videos on this would also give some insights which may appeal to you. Time allotment – minimum 10 hours.

Sub Goals: If required for each goal a few sub-goals can be noted. Illustration: Make GST simple, fair, and transparent, enable dialogue with Govt. to suggest, research & share with Govt. aspects important for amendments in the law, spread the possible opportunity in GST to all members, look at serving the Govt. & members.

3.      Column 2- Put down at least 5 reasons as to WHY the goal is important. Failure is one aspect that at times stops and puts wonderful ideas into the backburner or permanently lost. Reflecting and looking at all impacted stakeholders' viewpoints may be a way to get more reasons. If one does it, then at any point in time some of the whys are being fulfilled and may motivate us to continue. Illustration: Why: 1) To make GST a success- contribute as a partner in nation-building, 2) To shift tax advice from “intermediary” based to “knowledge and skill” based, 3) To enhance the pride of the profession, 4) Enable ethical practice in a valuable service, 5) Augment/ increase the income of Cas in practice, 6) Provide a platform for learning GST for those in practice, in employment as well as tax officers, 7) Subject matter expertise would support growth in general of all professionals.    

4.      Column 3 – Note down the way we need to be to achieve the goals. Again not less than 5 ways of being. Illustration could be: visionary, patient, disciplined, persevering, involving/ aligning stakeholders, unstoppable, problem solving, empathetic.. This is important due to the fact that the subconscious mind driven by our emotions and beliefs is far more impactful than our conscious mind.

5.      Column 4 – Action points – to-dos listed. All great ideas mean nothing unless they are implemented. Arranged the to-do’s from long term to short term and withing each prioritised. Illustration: Awareness to members by way of adding to the CPE events, 10 + days certification course (workshops mode) to learn basics of GST ( including online) & advanced GST certification, starting a trainers training program to reach 1000 trainers, industry, CBEC( now CBIC) training programs, writing a comprehensive reference book – Background Material to GST, Technical guide to GST audit( when time for mandatory GST audit came), Comprehensive FAQS on GST, Issue-based and value-based in-depth knowledge sharing/ skill-building short programs, 100 + articles, sectoral booklets/ other relevant publications.

6.      Column 5 – Planned when along with timelines and frequencies. 1-3 years column [ continuous representation on the law. Rules, notification], this year column [ design the BGM and national ppt for the GST basics teaching, start the basic GST certification course, invite articles and share, design specific training for different stakeholders( depending on their knowledge; level), broken further into Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 – plan, monthly actions possible, weekly action possible, daily with numbers or time taken.

Once we have got this plan and structure in place, very important is to monitor on a monthly basis as to what has been done. Correct, make up if missed. Quarterly review again to see if plan working. If not relook at the numbers/ time allotted- maybe it is not realistic- rework the plan and use the reworked plan for further follow-up.

The goal-setting could be a private exercise or a declared one depending on one being an introvert or extrovert. Both are good. As far as the IDTC was concerned, we broadcast our plans and were luck with the massive and time-consuming support of the co-opted members as well as the secretariat able to dish out knowledge and training on a regular basis. The result is that 150,000 Cas got a good idea of GST more than 100,000 are providing services including the audit today.

Having a coach, mentor, senior to guide one along may hasten one's growth in this journey of becoming one's better self.