Introduction
“Goals are the outcomes that one strives to achieve while goal setting is the action that we take to achieve the goals.” Setting your goals at work is a key step towards enhancing one’s productivity level. It serves a sense of purpose and provides a direction that leaves a positive impact on one’s professional front. A concrete way to keep one on one’s toes at work is to use the S.M.A.R. T technique (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-Oriented) to know where one can devote the majority of the energy.
How Setting Goals at Work Affects Your Mental Health
- S.M.A.R.T technique: The S.M.A.R.T technique comes in handy here to keep a mental balance check at the workplace. Completing a section of the project each day will help you complete the project while being less exhausted.
- Productivity: Goal Setting can really improve our productivity levels. It will give us clarity regarding what we are supposed to do and keep us motivated. Setting these goals and achieving them will encourage us to do better and keep us motivated and optimistic in the workplace.
- Time Management: This will help one to manage time accordingly and work effectively without any hassle. Goal setting will allow one to keep a check on progress and the areas where work needs to be done.
Anxiety About Achieving Goals at Work
- Unrealistic Goals: Anxiety arises from unrealistic goals, leading to a lack of clarity that creates performance pressure and unrealistic expectations.
- Overthinking and Mistakes: As a result, people tend to overthink and make mistakes, which reduces effort and productivity.
- Reducing productivity: The consequences of setting unrealistic goals could be reduced productivity or poor job performance.
- Performance Pressure: Performance Pressure arises when we compare our progress with our colleagues at the workplace, which can negatively impact an individual’s job performance.
- Perfectionism in the workplace: The fear of not being able to fulfill work expectations has a negative impact on their well-being. The tendency to seek perfectionism in the workplace affects progress and, thus, the ability to achieve goals.
- Negative Impact on one’s overall well-being: It has been observed that anxiety about achieving goals at work has a negative impact on one’s overall well-being, leading to absenteeism. Thus, it is important that we create an inclusive environment where people can discuss their concerns openly.
Overcoming Anxiety About Achieving Goals
- Setting Boundaries: One can overcome anxiety levels at work by setting clear boundaries, making a list of the important tasks, and keeping deadlines for oneself to keep a check on balancing the mind.
- Reducing Workload: This will reduce the burden at work, and one may ask for help from other coworkers, which will also help one create networking and bonds that will help maintain a healthy professional lifestyle.
- Organized workplace: Another way is to ensure that the workplace is clutter-free. An organized work environment will help one know what needs to be done.
- Reducing feelings of overwhelm: It may significantly reduce feelings of overwhelm and help the individual to think clearly.
- Deep Breathing: Taking regular breaks and practicing deep breathing will help you overcome anxiety at the workplace.
It is equally important to appreciate ourselves after achieving a certain goal, as this will help us stay focused and motivated.
Impact of Goal Setting at Work
- When one achieves a set goal by prioritizing one’s work, motivation soars, leading an individual to do more and creating a positive impact in a group setting.
- Enhancing Performance: Engagement in a group setting improves the overall organization’s performance.
- Proper planning with employees at the workplace leads to a sense of fulfillment. It helps one work towards the vision of the organization’s shared goals that, in the end, promote unity and teamwork within the company.
- Numerous studies conducted by researchers worldwide have shown that goal setting can improve an organization’s overall performance compared to organizations where goal setting was not defined.
- However, it is important that we set rational goals and break larger goals into smaller objectives.
Conclusion
Using S.M.A.R.T. Goal Setting within the organization will improve productivity, enhance focus, and increase motivation, giving a sense of direction and a sense of purpose. Anxiety resulting from unrealistic goals, performance pressure, and unrealistic expectations can be overcome by breaking larger tasks into smaller sections. Rewarding oneself after achieving the goals. Setting deadlines for yourself to achieve them and connecting with people around you all boosts the overall performance of an individual in an organization’s setting, enhancing organizational performance.
References
Oleksandra, K., & Oksama, S. (2019) S.M.A.R.T Model: Goal Setting Approach. Journal of Colloquium
Desjardin, S. (2021) S.M.A.R.T Goal Setting. Journal of Applied Leadership and Management, 2194-9522, Volume 9.
