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Kira Vermond: How to set career goals you can stick to

Kira Vermond

 By Kira Vermond, a Canadian freelance writer.

It's 2011. This is the year you are going to land a better job. Get that promotion. Or ask for a raise.

 
You're not the only one setting career goals in January. A lot of us do it.
 
But how many resolution makers actually follow through? Well, here are a few tips to help you stick with your plan and get what you want out of your working life.
 
And, it actually starts with a plan. In other words, it's great to say, I want a new job in 2011. But to make it happen, you've got to write your goal down. And that's not the end of it. You also have to write down how you're going to meet that objective. You need to break your goal down into small, manageable pieces.
 
For instance, say you want a raise this year. This week, your first task is to research salary trends. Check out PayScale.com or any of the other salary lists that are out there.  You want to know what other people are making.
 
Next week, map out all of the ways you've helped your company prosper over the last few years. Maybe you came up with a way to make your coworkers more efficient. Or maybe you landed a big account that ended up keeping the business afloat during the recession.
 
The next week, develop a business case for your supervisor. Show him or her why you deserve the money.
 
By February, you're going to be ready to ask for what you want.
 
One goal. One plan to get you there. A lot of little steps along the way. It works.
 
But does it for everyone? Here's something interesting. According to a U.K. study, men are better at meeting their goals when they do break them down into pieces. But it turns out that women do better when they tell their friends what their goals are and are encouraged to stick it out.
 
So maybe this is the month you launch a goal-setting group. Simply grab a few friends who also want to make changes in their lives, and meet for a couple of hours every month.
 
To keep it effortless and automatic, make sure the group is small to avoid scheduling conflicts. And choose the same day and time to connect. Everyone writes down two or three resolutions. Then brainstorms those smaller steps.
 
The next month you meet and celebrate successes. Or you figure out where you went wrong and how to overcome obstacles next time.
 
It's all about accountability. And if that's what motivates you, why not try it? Because if you meet New Year's resolution goal, not only will you have bragging rights within your group, you'll also have a new job, a promotion or a raise.

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