What are short term professional goals

Short-term goals are incredibly vital to career development. Career objectives may vary widely and could be a move up the organizational ladder, increase in financial earning, and change of occupation. Whatever the case, it is imperative to have set career goals that will allow you to move from the current position to the desired career position. Achieving a goal can be more complex. However, breaking down this career goal to achievable short-term goals play a significant role in the achievement of those goals. As such, the importance of setting short-term goals in career development bear the following importance.

Firstly, short-term goals creates a visualization of the immediate target which will then motivate you to reach the specific career goal. It is always critical to create reference points of how the career development journey has been travelled so far. These references can only be marked by short-term goals. Visualizing a short-term goal motivates an individual that the goal is achievable once the first few short-term objectives have been reached. It is usually a daunting task to know how far development has gone. But with the help of short-term goals an individual can easily point out that they are well on course to achieve the next short-term goal.  Secondly, short-term goals enable an individual reward themselves as well as generate self-confidence about attaining the set goal. A career journey just like any other journey should have reflection points. In a career journey, pausing for some time allows an individual to reward themselves for what they have achieved so far. In effect, this creates an excitement that the long-term career goals will be achieved gradually but surely. The immense satisfaction of achieving the first few short-term goals propels an individual further forward with more confidence and renewed commitment to the long-term career goal.

Thirdly, short-term career goals enables one to evaluate their performance and the techniques which have so far been used. Every now and then people report that they are no longer able to accomplish their career goals because they do not know how to pursue them. In that case, implementing short-term goals allows an individual to review their performance and the techniques that they have used. If the reevaluation process indicates good progress, then the individual stays the course since they are certain of achieving the long term goal. However, if the review progress indicates career dormancy then the short-term goals facilitate improvement of the techniques used to attain the long term set goals and objectives.

Fourthly, short-term goals prepares an individual to face the next hurdle on the way to achieving the final goal. Every step in a career path is crucial as it builds up the stamina to face the next challenge. Short-term goals can, therefore, be considered as rejuvenation points where individuals prepare to overcome the next challenge in the career development path. Achieving specific short-term goals also builds up confidence to an individual with the knowledge that the things are well on course as they were planned. Demonstrably, short-term goals play an essential role in career development and the attainment of the ultimate goals.