Determining development goals - tools & techniques
Every mentoring and coaching process begins with the question: Where do I want to go? Clearly defining development goals is the starting point for conscious self-improvement, developing competencies and building a satisfying career path. A well-formulated goal gives direction to conversations, allows for measuring progress, and strengthens motivation to act—both in the mentee and the mentor.
In practice, however, setting goals isn't always easy. It requires self-reflection, analysis of past experiences, and the courage to name one's own aspirations. That's why in this category we've collected mentoring and coaching techniques that help define precise goal setting—from methods for discovering values and priorities to tools for translating vision into specific, measurable actions. Here, you'll find approaches that support clarifying direction, setting priorities, and building a realistic development plan whose progress can be regularly monitored and revised.
If you want to see what goals are most often implemented in mentoring and how to construct them, check out the article: "Mentoring Goals – The Essence of the Technique and Sample Goals for Mentees". It's also worth understanding the role of self-awareness in the entire process—we describe it in the article "What is Self-Reflection in Mentoring and Why Is It So Important".
Review the list of techniques below—choose the ones that best suit your situation and stage of development. Each one will help you transform general expectations into clear goals and consistent action.