It’s been a tough few years in the medical fraternity but there is now cause for optimism that brighter days are ahead.

What better time to start thinking about what you want to achieve out of the year ahead?

Many hopes and dreams have had to be put on hold over the last few years.

But now is the perfect time to reconsider your own professional growth and development, wherever you work in the medical industry.

Setting goals and planning your career can give you a new focus and impetus and guard against boredom or burnout.

It will also help you avoid a year of stagnation where your career has failed to advance.

So get yourself into gear and use the following steps to formulate your goals for the year ahead. 

Review the year just completed

Many businesses will conduct their own reviews with staff as a matter of course.

But even if you’ve been down this path already, it is worthwhile to review yourself so you can begin the process of setting goals for the year ahead.

Consider what you did well and what was successful. Then assess what didn’t turn out so well and why it may have failed.

What motivates you? Is it money, knowledge, family, helping people? Or perhaps a combination of all these things.

Think about what you enjoyed and perhaps what made you uncomfortable or didn’t align with your core values.

If you’ve done this before, compare your goals at the start of the year with what you actually achieved and think about how you materialised them or why they fell short.

Ponder what lies ahead

No-one knows exactly what’s around the corner but like any good scout, you should ‘be prepared’.

Consider how you expect the year to unfold from both a personal and professional perspective.

Allow yourself to craft goals that are both desirable and attainable – but also stretch you.

From a personal point of view, is it a good year to take on more study with that new baby on the way?

Is your workplace flagging new opportunities for promotion or are there fears about restructuring or downsizing?

Your own environment may be holding you back.

Compile a list of goals

Now that you’ve carefully assessed both the past and the future, it’s time to let your imagination run wild.

Compile a list of everything you’d like to achieve or change about your career over the next 12 months.

Don’t hold back, there’ll be time to prune it later.

Whether they seem big or small, long-term or short-term goals, put them all to paper, even if they seem trivial or far-fetched.

Think about your current role, other business opportunities, further education, volunteering, potential leadership or mentoring roles, operational or management positions, anything that’s crossed your mind.

Maybe you want to branch out on your own.

Or perhaps you are seeking a better work-life balance and more time for you.

There are no wrong answers!

Review your list

Give your list a day or two to breathe.

Then come back to it and review it critically, thinking about what is really important to you and realistically achievable.

Consider too whether you have the time and energy to bring this goal to fruition, given everything happening in your professional and personal life.

Retain what ticks all of these boxes and strike everything else from the list.

What you will be left with are your goals for 2023.

Action your goals

Now you’ve arrived at what’s important to you and will hopefully give your career renewed purpose and vigour, it’s time to action your goals.

Your list includes everything you want to achieve in the next 12 months but do you have the right support network and resources around you to achieve them?

Think about the environment you are in – the business, its people and its direction.

Can you achieve what you want by remaining where you are or do you feel something or someone is holding you back?

If so, it may be time to consider a change of space where your goals and ambitions will be better respected and given the full support that they deserve.

Apply now to work at AHA

AHA Clinics puts a great emphasis on the personal development, career advancement and growth of not just our doctors but all of our staff.

We provide training and mentoring for doctors of all ages who are keen to progress their careers.

We also encourage further education and new opportunities within the profession.

If you feel you are being held back or have grown stagnant where you work, consider a fresh start with AHA Clinics.

You will love our purpose built, state-of-the-art facilities that utilise natural light and make coming to work here a joy.

We take great pride in our fantastic culture that supports doctors of all ages both professionally and personally.

We also place a high priority on work-life balance that complements the goals and commitments of all of our doctors.

There are some outstanding opportunities for doctors at our two clinics at Seaford and Seaford Meadows.

If that sounds attractive to you, we’d love to hear from you.

You can learn more about our practice and register your interest here or email recruit@aharecruitment.com.au.

Our AHA leadership team will contact you soon to arrange an interview.