Setting Goals: Why it is Important to be Determined and Focused for a Successful Career Path

Goal setting is a healthy and effective habit to ensure that you meet your short-term and long-term goals. It is an efficient technique to make the most of your time and to keep improving your goals. Several theories and strategies emphasize the importance of goal setting in career coaching.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs focuses on human motivation and the things people engage in to make themselves happy. He believed that humans have the innate desire to be self-actualized, simply being the best person they can be and reaching the highest psychological development state.

There are five needs in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, and it is displayed as a pyramid. At the bottom lies physiological needs (food, water) followed by security and safety needs (financial security, wellness), social needs (romantic attachments, friendships), esteem needs (respect, appreciation), and on the top is self-actualization.

According to Abraham Maslow, humans should strive to be self-actualized to achieve their full potential as human beings. Goal-setting becomes a crucial habit. It helps you move through all the needs and finally reach a self-actualization state where you are self-aware, motivated, and not affected by others' opinions. Instead, your complete focus is on your personal growth, and you are involved in all activities to help you reach a state of self-actualization.

SMART Goal Setting

Specific: To make your goal specific, you can start by writing it down, and to make it precise, you should include the who, what, where, and when. For example, I will be the Executive Manager in my firm located in UAE by the end of 2025.

Measurable: After you have specifically written your goal, you should determine what the noticeable measures for your goal will be like, and for this, you have to think about what you will see, feel or hear once you have achieved your goal. For example, I have greater respect within my firm, and with my pay rise, I can take care of all of my personal needs.

Achievable: Achievable goals are realistic goals, and there is a great likelihood that you can meet these goals. To ensure that your goals are achievable, you should set goals that are under your control. Do not set goals based on others' thoughts or behaviors as this is not under your control.

Realistic: Make sure that your goals are achievable and avoid writing statements that are impossible for you to attain. This will lead to unwanted frustration and can affect your self-esteem.

Time-bound: All goals need to have a specific deadline, as this will ensure that you are focused and have a sense of urgency to make your goals your reality.

Time Management

Goal-setting and time management go hand-in-hand, as good management of time will help you achieve your short-term and long-term goals before your deadline. You can get the best out of your time by avoiding distractions and time-wasters. This will help you get more time in a day to meet your urgent and important goals.

Our life coach at Unlocked Potentials understands the value of time and the importance of time setting to lead a fulfilled life.