There are dozens of different approaches to goal setting and tracking. One of my favorites is the use of OKRs (highly evident as they are what I use in most product management settings).
Unlike SMART goals (another favorite of mine), which focus on short-term, achievable targets, OKRs go further into the long-term and are more ambitious in nature.
So, what does this look like in practice?
First, define your vision and objective. What is the primary, if nothing else, impact you want to achieve? Are you pushing for that next promotion? A raise? Your dream job?
Second, assess if it aligns with any broader values; does it align with your North Star? Sure, it’s great to get that promotion, raise, or job, but why does that actually matter for you in the grand scheme of things?
Then, we set our key results; how do we know we’re progressing on that vision and objective? How would you measure your progress towards your next career step? Focus on desired outcomes more than individual tasks to do.
And finally, implement those OKRs and track progress clearly. At this point is where you could use a framework like SMART goals to segment your journey into bite-sized steps.
You are in control of your career and its growth.
Use OKRs to grow your career.