setting meaningful and achievable goals

Recently, I was chatting with another coach and PD pro, and we were both surprised by this realization: while our shelves are stacked with books on finding meaning in work and building habits, neither of us has a "go-to" book solely on goal-setting.

🎯Of course, there are popular frameworks like SMARTGoals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) and the GROW model (Goal, Reality, Options, and Way forward), but what about figuring out the actual goal? Here are a few tips to dive into it:

✨ Align with Your Team and Organization: First, get crystal clear on the goals of your team and organization. Familiarize yourself with the mission statement, and if possible, schedule time with your team’s leadership to hear their vision and specific goals. Mapping your own goals to align with the team’s can highlight growth opportunities—what jumps out at you? Where can you develop new skills or deepen your industry knowledge?

💡 Start with Your Values: If stability, for instance, is a top priority, take a look at areas of your life that could use some “shoring up.” That could mean saving more, exploring home ownership, or finding a role with staying power.

🌱 Listen to Your Inner Voice: Pay close attention to those recurring thoughts or interests, even if they’re just faint whispers right now. For me, it was an interest in books on end-of-life topics (e.g. Paul Kalanithi’s When Breath Becomes Air). That curiosity eventually led me to become a hospice volunteer with Hudson Valley Hospice.