By: Sabrina C. Spitznagle, Principal & Founder at Loop Legal SearchChicago Legal Recruiters – Your Recruiting Connection
To be successful in your career (and in your personal life for that matter), you need to set SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time bound or trackable) goals for yourself on a frequent and regular basis (not just at New Year’s!). Most likely, you have heard the term SMART, as it actually has been around since 1981. I thus should not have been surprised (but I was) that my teenage kids knew all about SMART goals and claimed to have started learning about them in kindergarten. While this topic clearly is not breaking news, perhaps this article will offer a new or slightly different perspective; or if nothing else, will remind at least one person (besides me) of the importance of setting mindful goals.
Start your goal setting process by taking the time to carefully think (without distractions) about what you really want to accomplish and why. If you do not truly want to accomplish your goals, you will not prioritize them, and they will not happen. After you have given careful thought to what you want your goals to be, follow these SMART tips to achieve them.
1. SET SPECIFIC GOALS IN WRITING.
To achieve your goals, they must be specific, clearly defined, detailed, and written down. A vague goal such as “Achieve a better work life balance” or “Make partner” might be a good start, but it does not provide enough direction for you to succeed. Instead, be more specific by adding “Achieve a better work life balance by totally unplugging from 6:30 – 8:30 pm every day” (or at least three days a week – whatever is attainable for you); or “Achieve a better work life balance by working from home one day a week;” or “Make partner within 5 years.” Much like taking a deposition, once you have your overall mission statement, you then will need to drill down and be even more specific by breaking down your larger goal into much smaller, quantifiable, and doable tasks. For example, what will it take to make partner in 5 years? Start by talking to people at your firm who have made partner and asking them. Then set specific smaller goals based on the advice you receive (make sure you ask a number of people so the advice is accurate). The smaller goals to make partner likely will include getting certain experience such as first or second chairing a trial; developing a certain amount of business; and taking on leadership roles within your firm. These goals still need to be broken down even further so you clearly lay out: 1) what you need to do to get that experience (perhaps take on a pro bono matter); 2) what you need to do to get that business (attend a specific number of networking events every month; make a presentation; or reach out to a specific number of clients or potential clients every month); and 3) what type of leadership position you should take on and how you will get it.
To ensure that your goals are specific, clearly defined, and detailed, you MUST WRITE THEM DOWN. Just like you would not attempt to do a very challenging math problem in your head (especially if you are a lawyer who is notoriously bad at math), you should not attempt to set your goals in your head. You also are 42% more likely to achieve your goals if you actually write them down. Everything is Figureoutable, by Marie Forleo (this is a great book btw). Writing down your goals cements them in your mind and makes it much more likely that you will prioritize them and thus achieve them.
2. SET MEASURABLE AND MOTIVATING GOALS.
Set goals that you can measure so that you know when you have achieved success. For example, if your overall goal is to become a better public speaker, set a specific goal of taking (or at least signing up for) a public speaking course; or reading a book or article on public speaking by a certain date (more on this later, but the specific date is critical!). A longer-term specific goal related to this could be to take on a project at work that will involve some sort of public speaking, such as making a CLE presentation to your firm. If your overall goal is to leave your current firm and join a smaller or larger firm or find an in-house position, set smaller, measurable goals such as:
- Find a reputable recruiter you trust and reach out to her or him by a certain date that is not more than a month away
- Update your resume, LinkedIn profile, and business plan by a certain date that is not more than a month away
- Apply to at least one position every month
- Add at least two new people to your LinkedIn network every week
- Attend at least one networking event every month and give your card to at least 2 people at each event
Additionally, state your goals in a positive, motivating way. For example, saying “I will make partner in 5 years” is a much stronger and more motivating mantra than “I would like to make partner in 5 years.” It took me awhile to buy into this, but it truly is not just semantics – your words and thoughts become your reality. At the same time, make sure you have a back-up plan. It might not be possible to make partner or have a better work life balance at your current firm in any amount of time, and that is okay. There are many firms and other options out there, so have a back-up plan in place to achieve your goal, even if it involves eventually making a really big change like leaving your current firm.
3. SET ATTAINABLE GOALS AND BE ACCOUNTABLE.
Make sure to set goals that are attainable and possible to achieve. I’m all for aiming high, but let’s face it – we can’t all be Serena Williams, Beyonce, or Ruth Bader Ginsburg. We are all capable, however, of becoming a better tennis player and winning a regional tournament; taking voice lessons; or completing the application form to become a judge (assuming you are a licensed attorney). Part of this process is figuring out what you truly want to accomplish. Because if you really, truly want something, you will put in the hard work and effort to achieve it. When I am faced with what seems to me to be an overwhelming project, I almost always initially think I can’t do it or that I don’t know how I will accomplish it – until I just start doing it. I break the task down and focus on the one thing right in front of me so I don’t get overwhelmed. Thus, it makes sense to start with smaller, less overwhelming, and less daunting goals that you know you can achieve in a relatively short amount of time. Successfully achieving a goal will boost your confidence and motivate you to set and achieve more challenging goals in the future. So, aim realistically high and just get started.
Accountability also is key to achieving your goals. You can use an app, such as Productive, Things 3, or Any.do, to help hold you accountable. Or, enlist a trusted friend or family member, and ask them to check in with you on some regular basis and ask if you have done x, y, or z.
4. SET RELEVANT GOALS, REVIEW THE PAST, AND REWARD YOURSELF.
Keep your goals focused and relevant to the direction you want your career and life to take. Review what has worked and not worked for you in the past, and use those lessons when setting your goals now. Whenever you accomplish something, reward yourself – you deserve it! The reward does not have to be large – just something you enjoy, such as a massage, a movie, a small gift or treat for yourself; or even just a walk outside.
5. SET NO MORE THAN TWO TO THREE TRACKABLE GOALS.
If you set too many goals, you will get overwhelmed. If you are overwhelmed or if achieving your goal does not seem possible, you are much more likely to give up and not accomplish your goal. Thus, focus on achieving no more than two to three goals at a time. Give yourself a deadline and make sure you stick to it. Tracking your performance will significantly increase your chance for success. Finally, be flexible – you may need or want to change the direction of your goals. If something is not working for you, don’t be afraid to adjust, tweak, and reassess as necessary.
The process of setting SMART mindful goals will give you focus, direction, and a purpose. This, in turn, will give you so much more confidence at work and put you in control of your career. So, get SMART and set yourself up for success!