This post was updated on August 30, 2021.

Though we’re almost two months into the 2019 (how did that happen?!), the year is still fresh and it’s still a great time to set goals. SMART goals are great, but as a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, I encourage our team to take it a step further and use their personal strengths to set individual goals for the year.

Each year, our team reviews their personal strengths (identified though the Clifton Strengths assessment) and reflects on how they are demonstrated professionally and focuses on how to grow their strengths even more. Using these strengths to guide annual goal setting is a natural next step to this process. And, there is data to back this up!

Employees who know and intentionally apply their strengths to their work are 6x more likely to be engaged at work, nearly 8% more productive in their role and 6x as likely to do what they do best every day!

Here are the 5 steps the Brilliant Ink team takes as we approach setting our individual goals for the year:

1. Reflect

Look at your previous year's Goals, Strength Finder Results and this year's Company Vision and Goals. Take some time to reflect on what you accomplished last year and where you’d like to go in the year to come and beyond.

2. Find Focus

Pick one strength that you will spend the year refining and list three ideas for how you can work on refining that strength.

3. Get specific

Consider your strengths and skills and think about the areas where you want to grow to reach your long-term career goals. Ask yourself: “What can I do differently that would have the greatest positive effect on my work?” Choose at least two areas you would like to focus on in the year ahead and identify the strengths you can lean into to make them happen.

Think about your role in contributing to the ongoing success of the company. Where can you stretch yourself and go above-and-beyond in your current role? Review the 2019Company Goals and create at least two goals that will contribute to the company goals and identify the strengths you can lean into to make them happen.

4. Identify resources

Now that you have some amazing goals, what help do you need to achieve them? Are there classes or conferences that could further your understanding? An expert on the team? Someone’s strength that you can borrow? A way your manager can assist? Come up with three (or more!) resources that can support your goal progress.

5. Take action

Get moving on your goals! Identify something you can do over the next 48 hours to put one of your goals into action and a milestone you’d like to achieve in the next 30 days.

Looking for more inspiration on goal-setting? 

• Ready, Set, Goal! (Brilliant Ink)
• Creating & Setting Strength-based Goals (Strengths Finder)‍
• Effective Goal Setting 101 (Forbes)

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