If you already use a Career Development Goals Notebook start with your GOALS page. If you are simply using the Career Development Meetings Notebook as your starting point – start with the BRAINSTORMING PAGE. Either way, you need to be thinking about what goals you have already set since your last Career Development Meeting.

You should have both Corporate Goals (i.e. what your Employer wants you to achieve) as well as your own Personal Goals (i.e. what you want to achieve). I find it helpful to dedicate a page to each.

• Corporate and Business Goals Page – you should include a GOALS page that focuses on your Company’s goals, vision and/or business plan.
• Personal Goals Page – This should be things that you want to achieve and contribute to the Company together with goals that will help you achieve your internal goals such as a promotion or a payrise or being put in charge or a specific project or customer.

Of course, if you are in the right job – there should be an element of overlap between these goals and you should be able to put your cards on the table with your boss – if you are achieving their requirements – they should also be able to help fulfil yours.

Once you have reviewed your EXISTING GOALS you then need to be thinking about what you have done to progress or meet these goals and any feedback you have received. Use your notebook to track your progress and keep on top of your goals.

The Career Goals and Meetings Notebook also has specific pages for planning and thinking about what you want to talk about at your next meeting and can be used to plan your conversation and keep points to discuss in advance of the meeting as well as any follow up from any meetings.