Hundreds of studies in numerous countries have confirmed the power of goals. However, all too often these goals are arbitrary. The strategy of having a big target to aim for can be unlikely to motivate anyone, which is why we're excited to share with you how breaking your goals down into bitesize challenges can help you make the more meaningful progress.

Start at the very beginning

Before we discuss how to break down your goals, the first step is always to get clear on your "why" behind the goal itself. Engage in self-reflection by asking yourself: What motivates me? What would be worth celebrating? Where do I find joy? What are my strengths? 

Once you've gotten clear on why the goal is important to you, you can harness the power of intrinsic motivation rather than external pressure. 

So far, so SMART

If you're unfamiliar with this the SMART goal setting framework, it's a strategy that enables you to get really clear on your goals, break them down by different criteria and makes you much more likely to achieve them. SMART goals are:

Specific.

Measurable.

Attainable.

Relevant.

Time-bound. 

Let's look at a standard professional development goal before and after applying the SMART goal setting framework:

"My goal is to be in a leadership role" becomes "In 12 months time, my goal is to be in a leadership role in my department, managing 5 people."

Break it down

So, by now we have our SMART goal and our "why" clear in our mind. The next step is to break this down into actionable steps, such as:

1. Sign up for an extracurricular activity that puts you in a leadership position. This could be volunteering at an industry event or organising a team outing.

2. Put together a short course or detailed presentation on a specific area you know well but others in your team are struggling with. This could be a common task, updated technology or new legislative requirement.

3. Get involved in a mentoring scheme and carve out time each month meet up with a mentee. The best way to learn is to teach someone else.

4. Apply for a leadership role and talk them through your journey. By this point, you will have a range of leadership experiences where you’ve demonstrated your abilities.

Set yourself up for success

Now we've outlined the goal and put some thought into a series of steps, it's time to consider what the main barriers are to achieving each of them. With this raised awareness, you know where to seek support. How could a mentor assist you with these specific problems? Mentor's like everyone else respond best to a tight brief. The more specific you can be, the more likely you are to have positive results.