January 1st is not the only time to set new goals!

Reflecting on 2024 and Charting Your Course for 2025: A Practical Guide to Goal Review and Setting

As we approach the end of 2024, it's the perfect time to pause and take stock of our professional journey. A thorough review of the past year's achievements and setbacks, coupled with thoughtful planning for the year ahead, can set us up for remarkable success. Here's how to make the most of this crucial exercise.

## Looking Back: Making Sense of 2024

Start by gathering concrete data. Pull out your calendar, project plans, and performance reviews. What were your key metrics? Which objectives did you set out to achieve? Review all your activities personal and professional - you will be surprised just how much you have achieved!

• Was there a difference between your actual achievements against your intended goals? Why was that?
• Identify unexpected wins that weren't part of your original plan
• Document the skills you've developed and relationships you've built

## Learning from Experience

Don't just list successes and failures—analyse them. What patterns emerge? Perhaps you consistently exceeded targets in collaborative projects but struggled with solo initiatives. Or maybe your quarterly goals were more achievable than annual ones. These insights are gold dust for future planning.

## Crafting Your 2025 Roadmap

Now, let's channel these learnings into meaningful objectives for 2025:

1. Start with the big picture, when you get to the end of 2025, what do you hope to have achieved?

2 Break annual goals into quarterly milestones

3. Include both stretch targets and foundational objectives

4. Build in regular review points—monthly or quarterly

5. Ensure your goals align with both personal growth and organisational needs

Remember, effective goal-setting isn't about creating a rigid blueprint for the year ahead. Instead, think of it as drawing a confident first draft of your success story—one that you can revise and enhance as circumstances evolve.

What's your top goal for 2025?

Share in the comments below, and let's inspire each other to aim higher whilst staying grounded in practical, achievable steps.

And if you want a free goal setting session with me before the end of 2025, then book a slot with me here: https://calendly.com/elaine-gold/elaine-s-1-1

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