The Christmas and New Year period in community pharmacy is often so hectic that it can feel as if we lurch from one year into the next without having time to even take a breath, let alone re-assess what transpired the year before. For many 2023 will be a year not only to reflect on the chaos and change of the last few years but to reassess and re-evaluate the things that are important to them.
Job satisfaction and work-life balance are one of the key shifts that have transpired in our post-pandemic world, with digital transformation changing how we work and often where we work. The pharmacy industry has certainly not been immune from these challenges and continuing to grow and succeed in this environment it requires a clear vision and goals to succeed.
Why set goals for work?
Setting goals is one way to keep you motivated and allows you to contribute towards your career advancement. However there are many other reasons why goal setting is so important:
1. Goals provide vision
What do you want to learn this year?
What do you hope to achieve?
Where do you want to be three years from now?
This does not necessarily mean getting a job promotion or changing jobs but it may mean building your skill set or capabilities. It may mean taking a new course or improving certain communication skills that are required in the workplace. For example, many employees are investing in personal development courses on topics such as emotional intelligence, which not only benefits people in their professional life but also in their personal life, therefore improving their work-life-balance.
2. Goals provide clarity
It is very easy to get caught up in the day-to-day tasks at hand. Irrespective of these tasks your professional development goals can help you focus on what you need to do to get you there. Goals will also help you to focus on where you need improvement and to focus where to spend most of your time and energy. What is it that you are working towards?
3. Goals are measurable
If you are setting goals it is important to quantify them. They could be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound) goals, OKR (objectives and key results) or have KPI’s (key performance indicators).
What do you want to achieve?
What areas need improvement?
How will you measure achieving the goal?
With these questions in mind you can create a specific goal.
4. Goals help you stand out
Success comes from setting goals and achieving them which in turn helps you to achieve your dream. When you achieve your goals you feel accomplished, successful and confident. All the valuesof a successful person.
So for a successful 2023 follow these simple tips to achieve your goals:
* Write your goals down.
* Share your goals with your colleagues, friends and family – this provides motivation and commitment.
* Visualise what you want to achieve or where you want to be.
* Set a timeline or deadline for each goal and tick them off as you achieve them to keep you on track.
Best wishes for a successful 2023!
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