"Where do you see yourself in three years?"

Story:

"Where do you see yourself in three years?" isn't a useful career development question—not without analysis. The Career Target is a fast, simple, effective technique. It's time-boxed; if you're not done #5 in 22 minutes you're doing it wrong!

Materials: paper; four pens (black, blue, red, green); highlighter.

1. Bull's-eye (90 seconds)

Draw a circle about 7cm/2" across on the page (use black until #4). Inside the circle record three to seven things you love to do in your current role. These are usually activities you do well. These are not about money; they motivate you and help bring meaning to your life. If your current role has nothing you love like this, note how you satisfy these drives (volunteer work, hobbies, travel, etc.). Highlight unpaid work.

2. Off-Target (2 minutes)

Draw a circle around the bull's-eye, about 15cm/6" across. Outside this circle, record activities in your current role that you loathe. You often perform these off-target activities poorly. To never do these again would be a relief.

3. Beside-the-Point (2 minutes)

Between the circles, record activities you do, but don't care about. You may be good at them, but they are not challenging or interesting. It wouldn't bother you to never do them again.

4. Clustering (90 seconds)

Present: Put a blue circle around everything that is necessary to success in your current role. Most people find an item in the bull's-eye, a few beside-the-point, and a few off-target. Put a red box around everything that prevents your success in your current role. Many people box an item in the bull's-eye.

Future: Highlight activities critical to your success in your desired role. Some may be red boxed in your current role. In green, record activities that you don't do today but which are critical to the desired role. Put them in the appropriate circles and highlight them.

5. Analyse and Plan (15 minutes)

Your target now shows what you care about and what activities you need to stop, start and continue for success. Is your desired role a good fit? What roles might be better? Find ways to do all critical activities yourself (perhaps with help). Don't try to stop behaviours that prevent success; find other venues for these drives (hobbies, volunteering, sports, etc.). Delegate everything else.

6. Act (the rest of your life)

Go make it happen, and revisit your target as needed.