Setting and Sticking to Goals

I've been working at the same company for six years now, and in one way this past month was the most challenging one I've had. That's because July was the first month I didn't have specific goals I was working against.

Until the current calendar quarter, I've always sat down with my manager and outlined upcoming initiatives and projects that I'd be tasked with either leading or supporting. What changed at the close of June and the start of July is not that the Q2 goals remained the same; rather that I was independent enough not only to deliver on the promise of the work, but also to manage my time effectively, with accountability and visibility.

It seems to me that setting, managing, and tracking goals is a worthy investment for all to take on. But at a certain point, there's a liberty, credibility, and in turn flexibility that you can earn to free yourself of the small, but necessary, burden of holding to a targeted set of goals.

At the same time, if you're transitioning off of quarterly or monthly goals, I'd recommend knowing exactly what you'll be working on and what you'll be measured on. This isn't about leaving old paths or traditions behind; it's a matter of understanding intuitively what's expected of you, even if it's not clocked in a spreadsheet or shared document.