As we step into 2025, now is the perfect time to consider the year ahead and how you can approach and achieve your goals.
InHerSight recently surveyed our audience on the follow-through rate of their ambitions last year, asking: “Did you set goals for 2024, and did you achieve them?”
The majority of respondents indicated they were proactive in planning for the year, with 75 percent saying they set goals for 2024. However, many said they fell short on achieving those aspirations. Here are six actionable tips from our audience for setting and achieving goals that will keep you on track all year long.
Read more: 7 Essential Goals for Every Manager in 2025
How to set and achieve meaningful goals
1. “Take it one day at a time.”
Break larger goals into smaller, manageable steps. It's easy to feel overwhelmed when you’re solely focusing on the big picture, but measurable goals thrive on daily progress, so start by setting daily micro-goals. Instead of tackling an entire project or a lofty resolution, identify one actionable task you can complete each day that contributes to the bigger goal. For example, if your goal is to write a book, aim to write 500 words daily. Try your best to celebrate one small achievement every day—tracking these wins helps build momentum and reinforces your commitment to the larger goal.
Read more: 14 Creative Ways to Celebrate Small Wins
2. “Write down your goals and review them monthly or quarterly to make sure you stay on track. Keep them in front of your face. Celebrate wins.”
Be specific when documenting your goals. For example, instead of writing, “Be a better team leader,” write, “Schedule biweekly 1:1s with my team to discuss progress and challenges.” Make time for a recurring check-in with yourself to evaluate progress. Ask yourself:
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What specific progress have I made toward my goal this month/quarter?
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Which actions or habits have been most effective in moving me closer to my goal?
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Where did I fall short, and why? What immediate adjustments can I make to get back on track?
Physically seeing your goals can reinforce your drive and keep motivation top-of-mind. This could mean attaching a sticky note to your desk, collaging a vision board with your goal, or downloading a digital tracker on your phone. Acknowledge and reward milestones, no matter how small. Treat yourself to something meaningful when you hit a target—whether it’s a coffee break, a meal out, or a mini dance session.
3. “Make sure you surround yourself with people who will lift you up in life.”
While it’s essential to be your own biggest cheerleader, you don’t have to do it all alone. Having a strong support system can make a huge difference in staying motivated and on track with your goals. Surrounding yourself with the right people is imperative for encouragement, perspective, and constructive feedback.
You can find an accountability partner by:
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Looking for people who have similar goals: Try to find people who are on a similar path—whether it’s a colleague aiming for a promotion, a friend working on fitness, or a mentor trying to develop new skills. If you share similar objectives, you can motivate each other and track progress together.
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Going to a trusted colleague or mentor: If you’re working on career-related goals, find someone you trust, like a manager, mentor, or colleague, who can offer advice and check in on your progress. They’ll have a vested interest in your success and can provide feedback to keep you aligned with your objectives.
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Joining supportive communities: If you don’t have someone in mind, consider joining a group or network (think professional development groups, fitness classes, book clubs, etc.) where like-minded people meet to work toward similar goals.
Be upfront about what you need from your buddy. If you need regular check-ins, let them know, and clearly define how you’d like them to hold you accountable. For example, you could say, “I’m working on being more vocal in meetings, and I would appreciate it if you could nudge me to speak up whenever I stay quiet.” Let them know when you’re struggling and need extra support, and make sure to ask for actionable feedback. You could say, “I’m having trouble staying focused on my project, and I’d really appreciate a check-in to help me stay on track this week. Do you have any tips?”
Read more: How to Hold Space for Your Coworkers (& Why You Should)
4. “Set systems instead of goals.”
Systems are the daily habits, processes, and routines that ground you and turn goals into actionable, repeatable steps. Unlike goals, which focus on the end result, systems shift your mindset from aiming for a distant finish line to embracing the everyday actions that drive progress.
This respondent continued to sum up system-based goals perfectly: “Instead of saying, ‘I'm going to get fit this year,’ make a commitment to work out for 10 minutes every single day or go running for 30 minutes three times a week. Instead of saying, ‘I'm going to learn French,’ make a commitment to doing three Duolingo lessons per day. Having these systems gives you a concrete building block that is achievable every day, and the cumulative effort adds up to massive results.”
For work-related goals, the systems might sound like this:
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“I’m going to ask for a promotion” → “I’m going to keep track of my wins weekly and set up regular check-ins with my manager to review my progress and achievements.”
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“I’m going to speak up more in meetings.” → “I will offer an opinion or idea in each and every meeting.”
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“I’m going to improve my time management skills.” → “I’m going to block off 30 minutes every morning to plan my day and prioritize tasks.”
Read more: 25 Professional Development Goals You Can Pursue Right Now
5. “Life happens, and it may impact your perfect vision of achieving all your goals within a certain arbitrary timeline. Let life happen, don’t get discouraged, and keep on in spite of the setbacks because you will get there in the end.”
Life is unpredictable, and sometimes there might be external factors or changes in priorities that impact your ability to meet goals on a set timeline. Instead of sticking rigidly to a schedule, give yourself permission to adjust your plans as needed—with grace and self-compassion. If you fall behind on a goal, reflect on the reasons behind the delay, adjust your approach, and get back on track without the added burden of guilt.
You can try to anticipate potential obstacles and develop a contingency plan for how to respond when things don’t go as expected. For example, if your goal is to complete a big work project, have a backup plan for time management if life responsibilities interfere. Say you're aiming to finish a proposal by the end of the month, but you suddenly face a personal emergency. Your contingency plan might involve blocking off a few extra hours on the weekend or delegating specific tasks to a colleague for the week while you handle the situation. This way, you can stay on track without getting overwhelmed or abandoning the goal altogether.
Read more: How to Cope with Constantly Being Overwhelmed
6. “Start small and when you achieve one, set the bar a little higher.”
Begin with goals that you can realistically achieve, and once you’ve achieved one goal, aim for something slightly more challenging. For example:
If your goal is to improve your project management skills:
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Start by reading one article or watch a 10-minute video on project management basics.
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Level up by completing a two-hour online course on project management fundamentals.
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Then, apply your skills by managing a small project with a team of three from start to finish.
If your goal is to build a writing portfolio:
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Start by writing one 500-word blog post on a familiar topic.
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Level up by publishing three articles on LinkedIn or your personal blog.
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Then, challenge yourself to submit a 1,000-word article to an industry publication.
If your goal is to be a better public speaker:
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Start by joining a local Toastmasters meeting and participate in a brief introduction session.
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Then, practice delivering a short speech to friends or family on a topic you enjoy.
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Then, push yourself and volunteer to present a longer update at your team’s next meeting.
This step-by-step growth keeps you from feeling overwhelmed while still pushing you forward. To refine the process, record your progress and reflect on what worked well before setting your next goal.
