Career Tip: Keep Weekly Goals
In my continuing search for the best ‘work hacks’ I have come across 'Make My Week’ app – a simple and fun way for people to think about what matters to them and find new ways to get more out of the time they spend at work.
My days are rarely slow-paced, which means I don’t have much down time to think about or chase side projects that have no deadlines attached. Though I make it a point to design my ideal day every morning or evening (with the help of this amazing planner), try as I might, my clients and projects simply have other plans.
But I will not be easily defeated! I’ve earmarked Fridays as days to reclaim as my own. A day where I aim to knock out the most important deadlines in the morning so I can get to the fun stuff in the afternoon, maybe even leave at 5pm if time is on my side. That’s where 'Make My Week’ comes handy. I love the simplicity behind the tasks they’ve designed. Most of all, they are practical and realistic goals anyone can take on at their own pace. Take a look
Try this…
Approach someone you admire inside your organization.
Ask if they’d mentor you towards a specific goal or if you can shadow them for a day.
Make it your business to know your teammates’ personal goals.
Look for win-win outcomes in team projects.
Look at recent customer feedback.
Think of 3 ways your team could help with the customer’s biggest pain point. Bring it up in your next team meeting.
Keep a notebook or app handy. Make a separate page for each work challenge and note ideas as they come to you. Look at each page at least once a week. Is there a continuous improvement program? Join it, or talk to your manager about creating one.
Make yourself known as a subject matter expert, by sharing relevant articles or posts with your colleagues.
Answer this…
What are you working on?
What time do get up each day?
What do you wear each day?
How do you feel in your clothes?
What does your calendar look like?
What are you doing all day?
What do you do after work?
What kind of meals do you eat?
Who do you spend time with, or talk to on the phone?
What time do you go to bed?
Do you read any books or watch any TV?
How do you feel at the end of the week?
What did you accomplish?
I love that these questions challenge you to think about how you’re spending your time and what you can do to optimize that time. I challenge you all to take this list and run with it – see what happens, and tell me about it!
