A career goal is often related to the work you do, often meeting certain objectives set out by yourself or the company, or related to the skills and education you have and/or need. Here, we look at some of the softer career goals to work on from setting better boundaries to building your network; these goals will not only help to achieve more balance but ultimately work better for it too.
Achieve better work-life balance
It’s pretty hard to escape work when we’re not in the office; whether you have emails on your phone, meeting dates that are throughout your digital diary, or connections we’ve made with colleagues on socials; even when we’re not in the office it’s pretty hard to forget about it.
If you’re finding that you’re constantly connected to your work, in one form or another, it’s important to get some distinction between work and personal. This could be taking your work emails off your phone- even if this is when you’re on holiday, clearly communicating to the team when you are not available, and even being strict on work related matters when you’re not in the office (check out page 12 of the Spring edition and our article on the 8-8-8 work-life balance schedule).
Learn to say no – that is not my job!
When we’re a people-pleaser, we can really struggle to say no. If you’re in this camp, just remember the boundaries of your job specification gives you the perfect excuse.
You should have a very clear outline of what your job entails and the expectations of your role, so if you feel that you don’t have the expertise or capability – for whatever reason, to deal with this new challenge, or if you’re feeling overwhelmed with the work that’s being piled on your plate, if it doesn’t meet or fall within the guidance of your job, you can say ‘I am afraid this isn’t something I am able to help with, why not try speaking to ‘Jerry’ – whose job or expertise it may be. Or, it may be a conversation to have with your manager if more work is being given to you than you can manage.
Build your network
There are many valuable benefits to networking; from seeking job opportunities and building relationships with prospect clients and suppliers, to inspiring creativity and collaboration, expanding your professional network offers a range of opportunities.
Of course, it can be nerve-wracking and mean you have to step outside your comfort zone which we appreciate isn’t very easy to do. However, the more you do it, the easier it gets, we assure you.
You could start by engaging more with your established network on LinkedIn; take the time to review your timeline and notifications daily (in business hours) and add comments and contributions where you can add value, congratulate those in your network celebrating milestones and special occasions, and even start curating your own content to encourage conversation.
When it comes to networking in-person, go to free conferences and exhibitions- related to your field- and engage with the exhibitors and fellow delegates there. Starting conversations in a low-pressured environment can make you feel more comfortable and confident when you start going to dedicated networking events.
Check out our 6 tips to networking; from researching events and potential attendees, to introductions and continuing the conversation.
Find a mentor
Regardless of where you are in your career; if you’re just starting out or are already making great strides, a mentor can be an asset to help guide, support, lead and encourage you in your career development. A good mentor helps you to establish goals and set about achieving them, and as an expert in the field, they can help guide you on the steps you may want to consider to propel your career further, aid in and be an impartial voice in giving you constructive feedback, and potentially expand your network with introductions.
If you’re already quite established in your career, why not become a mentor and share your invaluable insights with another individual?
