Sometimes working remotely can become comfortable — which isn’t a bad thing; however, just because you’re working from the comfort of your own home (or coworking space) doesn’t mean that you should let yourself remain stagnant. Setting professional goals is just as important for a remote worker as it is for a full-time, in-office employee.
Below you’ll find five steps that we believe to be vitally important when it comes to setting professional goals as a remote worker. Remember, you never want to become stagnant.
Don’t Become Content
We can take work that is exciting and challenging, but not our “dream job”, so to speak. That being said, just because you’re feeling content in your current position, don’t forget about your career aspirations in the long run. Whether it’s moving up in a company or starting your own business, it’s important to hold onto your professional goals no matter what stage of your career you’re currently in.
Figure Out What You’re Passionate About
No matter what your skill set is, chances are that there are still a huge range of options when it comes to the content or product you are producing with those skills. For example, if you’re a graphic designer, you could be working on page design for a travel magazine or mocking up a new website for your favorite non-profit organization. Similarly, if you’re a writer, you could be writing op-eds about politics or interviewing inspirational leaders in today’s world. The point here is to not only settle with the skill you’re most passionate about, but to also use that skill in a way that allows you to work on the products you’re most passionate about.
Put Self-Evaluations on Your Calendar
We’re used to getting evaluated by our bosses, but how often do you sit down to self-evaluate? Probably not enough, if ever. Once or twice a year, sit down and think about the progress you’ve made in your professional life. From there, decide where you want to take it. How can you improve? Is there room for growth at your current company? Is there anything you feel you’re lacking in your work days that could be resolved by setting professional goals?
Research Similar Positions
If you find that you’re happy and growing in your current position, wonderful. However, that doesn’t mean you should turn a blind eye to the rest of your industry. It’s important to always be in the loop when it comes to average salaries, responsibilities, and workload of positions similar to your own. Bonus: while you’re snooping around on the internet you might even find another position that better suits your professional goals.
Talk to Your Professional Cohort
If you’re not sure where you want to be heading, but know that you’re not satisfied where you currently are, talk to you professional cohort. Coworkers can often provide heaps of insight, and you can learn about their past experiences and future goals. Along with tightening your bond with your office place, you’ll also get a healthy dosing of information that you can then spend time pondering on your own.
Originally posted on Remote.com