Nope.
We’re not discussing New Year’s resolutions because only 9% of people keep them.
Let’s discuss how to use this simple strategy to succeed at work for you and your team.
The goal is to increase your chances for bonuses, promotions, awards, and opportunities to be seen, known, valued, and respected.
Here’s the template.
Looks simple, right? It is.
How it works
At the top, write your annual goals. Ensure they align with the company’s strategic goals. Anytime you discuss progress, connect it to the larger business objectives. Always remember them—that’s crucial. Show the organization how your work makes an impact. Sell yourself.
The second tier is the year divided into halves: H1 and H2. Here is where you split annual goals into a half. Don’t set yourself up for failure by scheduling them all for completion at the year’s end. Spread them out.
The third tier is the quarters: Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4. They break up H1 and H2. This helps to further funnel down your goals to more manageable timeframes.
Yup, you guessed it, the last tier is months. Like the halves and quarters above, assign those goals to a specific month. Detail matters.
Detailing your annual goals down to the month allows you to focus. You no longer have to worry about how or when to start because you’ve already laid it out. Easy mode.
Now, the fun part
The 52 weeks. Here’s what I do.
Every Friday, I jot down a handful of things that were completed during the week. A simple document works. I did this for a few reasons:
Memory recall. I recorded my activities and used that information for 1:1s with my team, boss, boss’s boss, CEO, etc.
Progress reporting. I liked to know how close I was to completing goals and if I needed to shift priorities.
Situational awareness. I wanted to know what was happening in the department and track it to the organization.
Remember, in procurement, the very nature of the work and your daily actions tell a story. You see the business like nobody else.
Whether it’s a new purchase for marketing that drives revenue from additional lead generation, a recent renewal that helps reduce risk and saves millions, or a gap you and the security team filled by purchasing and implementing a critical piece of technology.
You know the business inside and out.
And now, because you created this simple and impactful resource, everything is top of mind and at your fingertips.
This simple strategy and framework significantly increases your chance for career advancement and the recognition you deserve. Get after it.
See you next week.
Mat
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