How to set goals at work (and stick to them)
Welcome to Consult a Coach, our regular careers clinic for Bazaar readers. Send us your work dilemmas, and we’ll ask our career agony aunt – the industry professional, executive coach and motivational speaker Jo Glynn-Smith – to answer it.
Here, Jo advises a reader on how to set (and achieve) realistic business goals.
Explore the Consult a Coach archive, full of careers-based advice. Got a question you'd like answered? Email us at consultacoach@harpersbazaar.co.uk
Dear Jo,
Every year, I set myself New Year’s resolutions and yet, every year, I lose sight of them by March. I’ve recently been given a significant promotion at the business technology company where I work, and I will now be managing a team of 15. I want to make sure that I look back on 2025 feeling happy and proud of the progress I’ve made in the role. How can I set myself achievable goals – and keep myself accountable throughout the year?
With thanks,
Annie, 46
Jo says...
Dear Annie,
A goal-setting question is the perfect way to kick off January, so thank you for this one, and congratulations on the promotion! Like so many of us, you have identified one of the main problems with New Year’s resolutions, which is that they always run out of steam. We start off the year with all the best intentions, then life kicks in and the focus fades in favour of other priorities, which are not usually our own.
One of the main issues is not the goal itself – for me, the sky’s the limit – but the actions we take towards achieving that goal. We make it far too hard for ourselves from the off, with extreme or restricted regimes, an all-or-nothing attitude, and unrealistic or unsustainable pressure. Because we make it too hard, we don’t enjoy it, so when we fail to maintain the pace, we give up – because the motivation required to get back on track just isn’t there.
The key to achieving your goals is consistency and patience. It’s worth noting that we tend to over-estimate what can be achieved in the short term, but under-estimate what can be achieved in the long term. If you are committed and trust the process, you will be amazed at what you can achieve by taking small steps every day.
Try using the guide below as a start. You can also find a useful Goal Setting Template, along with other new career self-development tools, on my website, joglynnsmith.com.
1/ Identify your goals
What would make you feel proud, fulfilled, or successful in your role or career? Pinpointing this will make you more focused.
2/ Question your 'why'
Ask yourself: why is each goal important or meaningful? If you don’t know, or if it’s a goal based on someone else’s agenda, it may be much harder to achieve.
3/ Establish what's holding you back
Think about what you need to address or resolve in order to achieve your goals. This will get you to hone in on what you need to do first.
4/ Identify the first small step
What could be your initial, small step that will get you closer to your goal? Knowledge is power, so often this could simply be doing some research or having a conversation. Once armed with information, it’s easier to create action.
5/ Hold yourself accountable
Decide when you're going to take that small step, then put it in your schedule, like you would a meeting, and make it a priority.
6/ Gain momentum
Once you've completed the first step, identify and then create an action for the next one, and so on.
7/ Check in with yourself
Create a check-in date – a time in the future when you can review your progress, and adjust next steps accordingly, which sometimes means adapting your strategy. What's key is that you are constantly moving forward and taking action. Remember, even failure is a form of progress.
8/ Stay focused
Keep to your path and don’t constantly look left or right. This is your set of goals and yours alone, so don’t get distracted by other people’s successes or failures. If you are happy with your progress and you feel as though you are moving forward, that’s all that matters.
Good luck!
Jo Glynn-Smith is a transformation coach, speaker and personal-brand expert from London who works with leaders, entrepreneurs and businesses to help maximise their team or individual potential. Before becoming a coach, she spent most of her career in the fashion industry working at the highest level with some of the biggest global brands. You can follow Jo for more coaching tips and advice on Instagram (@jojoglynnsmith) or visit her website, joglynnsmith.com.
You Might Also Like
