eNewsHound

One of the questions many people ask of themselves, and of others, is where do you see yourself next year, or in the next five years.  For many in the process of a job interview, this is a question that can throw them off balance.  Business training reveals that it is a great question to ask of someone when you are looking for insight into that individuals skills of communication, and into their own self awareness.  When the question is referring to one’s own personal life, and not specifically for the job the person is interviewing, the answer reveals more than one may think.

If one candidate for the job answers the question about long term goals, and how they plan to achieve, stating that in five years they specifically want to be advanced to the position of manager, working with a qualified team, this is a very specific and may be seen as a narrow response.  One that could indicate a lack of flexibility.  However, should one state that they have been incredibly busy with the goals of the company that they haven’t had time to focus on their own, this may demonstrate a great work ethic but does not demonstrate a skill in planning or vision for the future.

And again, should one have the aspirations of starting their own company, to state this in the interview process, while demonstrating a strong desire to succeed, may give the prospective employer the idea that one will not be sticking around too long.  Executive training courses reveal that the answer to this seemingly easy and simple question, is often very hard to communicate.  Take a moment to really think about what you want, and focus on setting and achieving short term goals.

Focus on the needs of your prospective employer and their company.  Many times they really need someone organized and who can show the ability to to reach those short term goals.  Consider the times when your organized planning has led to positive results.  Everyone will have different things in life that are important to them, but by focusing on the immediate interview, and by being focused on the goals of the company, you will have a better chance to present your answer in an organized way, and will set you headed in the right direction.

One way to increase one’s own personal organizational development and potential, is to clearly define goals, short term and long term.  To have a plan.  Many potential successes in life are short changed by a lack of planning.  Planning may seem like a time-consuming task, but in the long run not only is it a sure fire way that one will be successful, but it will serve to save time in the end.  The goals that one sets for oneself should not only be useful and pertinent, but they should be attainable.

These would be on the list of the short term goals.  When one would like to run a marathon, they do not begin their training with a marathon. It is a slow and steady pace, that works towards the bigger picture.  One may start simply with running around the block, consistently and without fail.  Gradually, the new short term goal is one mile.  In this way, one will not become discouraged, and will be more likely to succeed one day in that marathon.  This is true in many aspects of life, be it going back to school, or beginning a sales training program, or beginning–and finishing important projects in the workplace.  These near future goals, give one the momentum to pursue the end result.

While the long term goals tend to be those that are more important or meaningful to an individual, it is the short term goal that will one to that next step.  The short term goals will serve to keep one focused on the big picture, and will maintain the attitudes necessary to continue and to succeed.  It is important to keep track of one’s progress and to acknowledge it as often times the goal seems so far in the future, one may be tempted to simply give up.  By keeping a record, it is a visual and an intellectual stimulus to keep one going.  This also serves to become organized when one has more than one goal they are working on at any given time.  The key to success is to be organized, thoughtful about that organization, and diligent.