Career Goal
Action Map

Goal Setting Tools

Translate career goals into specific behavioral changes.

From Goal to Behavior

Career goals fail when they stay abstract. "Get promoted" does not tell you what to do Monday morning. This tool bridges the gap by mapping a single career goal into six categories of behavioral change - giving you concrete actions across what to start, stop, continue, increase, decrease, and redesign.

The six-quadrant structure forces specificity. Most people can name what they want to achieve; far fewer can name what they need to do differently to get there. The "stop" and "do differently" quadrants are especially revealing - they surface the habits and patterns that are quietly working against the goal.

How to Use This Worksheet

  1. Write your goal at the top. Be specific. "Land a VP role at a mid-size tech company within 18 months" is more useful than "get promoted."
  2. Work through all six quadrants. Fill in at least three items per quadrant. Resist the urge to skip the harder ones - the discomfort is usually a signal.
  3. Prioritize your first three actions. Identify the three highest-leverage behaviors you will start this week, and assign a deadline to each.
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Career Goal Action Map

My career goal:
Start Doing
New behaviors, habits, or activities to adopt
Stop Doing
Behaviors or patterns working against this goal
Continue Doing
What is already working and should be maintained
Do More Of
Existing behaviors to increase in frequency or intensity
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Career Goal Action Map (continued)

Do Less Of
Activities to reduce without eliminating entirely
Do Differently
Same activities, but with a new approach or method
My first three actions this week:
1.
By:
2.
By:
3.
By:
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Before Your Next Session

Two questions worth sitting with before you meet with your coach. The "stop" and "do differently" quadrants are typically the hardest - and the most useful.

Reflection Prompts

Look at your "Stop Doing" quadrant. What would it cost you - professionally or personally - to keep doing those things for another year?

Look at your "Do Differently" quadrant. What has prevented you from making that change until now?

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Tandem Coaching Partners

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partnering with executives and organizations
to unlock sustainable growth.

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contact-us

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