Goal-Oriented vs. Goal-Driven: What is the Difference?

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In the workplace, employees are often required to do more work with fewer resources. It can be easy to feel overwhelmed, but you can alleviate this feeling by developing a goal-oriented mindset. Becoming goal-oriented allows you to organize your daily tasks while staying focused on the bigger picture. This article will help you understand the goal-oriented mindset and the skills to become goal-oriented.

What does goal-oriented mean?

Goal-oriented means setting goals and planning tasks, then taking action to complete the tasks that lead to the larger, overall accomplishment while staying focused on the desired results. Becoming goal-oriented allows you to effectively allocate your time and energy to tasks that drive progress toward the results you want. Developing a goal-oriented mindset means focusing your energy in three major areas: planning and organizing your tasks, completing tasks, and maintaining your motivation.

Planning and organizing the tasks required to complete a goal allows you to feel more control over the project and its outcomes. Goal-oriented means being single-minded in pursuit of a goal, which translates to focusing on and completing each individual task. Focusing on and completing each task also allows you to track progress toward achieving the goal, which helps you maintain motivation.

Results-oriented is another word for goal-oriented. It means you plan your activities and complete tasks in the pursuit of a specific goal or result.

Goal-oriented vs. goal-driven

Goal-oriented and goal-driven are often used as synonyms. However, they can also work together. Goal-oriented is staying focused on your goals while planning and completing tasks toward the accomplishment of your goals. Being goal-driven can help you maintain motivation in performing daily tasks by knowing that the tasks lead to an overall goal. Daily tasks can feel overwhelming, but maintaining focus on the bigger picture and the desired outcomes will help you stay organized and motivated.

Skills that demonstrate goal-orientation

Some skills help support and develop a goal-oriented mindset. Learning and developing these skills can help you become goal-oriented, manage your workload and increase job satisfaction.

Here are some examples of goal-oriented skills:

Planning and organization

The ability to plan and organize your time and space allows you to prioritize work, meet deadlines and maintain an orderly space to stay on top of projects and assignments. This shows employers that you are able to manage your workload to complete assignments on time. Planning and organization require the ability to accurately estimate the time required to complete tasks and prioritize work to ensure you meet important deadlines. Planning and organization also help you feel more in control of your time and energy, which will help you stay motivated toward accomplishing your goals.

Prioritizing

Prioritizing is the ability to identify important tasks that you need to complete first before moving on to less important tasks. The ability to prioritize your work is related to time management and helps you complete important tasks on time. Prioritizing your tasks allows you to complete the important tasks that drive progress toward your goals. Prioritizing these important tasks allows you to see the results of your work as you track progress toward your goals.

Time management

Time management is the ability to plan and prioritize your time. It includes accurately assessing how long tasks will take and planning tasks accordingly to make the most of your time and meet deadlines. Although constant productivity may seem like the best way to manage your time, taking breaks and scheduling down-time is an important aspect of time management. Breaks allow you to rest and regroup before tackling the next task. Successfully managing your time will help you stay focused and make progress toward larger goals. 

Motivation

Motivation is the ability to commit to performing a task and following through with that commitment. It can be external or internal. The rewards and consequences you expect are considered external motivation. Being goal-oriented and focusing on the results you expect after accomplishing a goal is an example of external motivation. Internal motivation is the way work makes you feel. A sense of purpose or gratification from work is an example of internal motivation. Understanding and identifying your motivations help you commit to performing the tasks to achieve your goals.

How to list goal-oriented skills on a resume

Listing goal-oriented skills on your resume can show that you can effectively manage your workload, complete tasks and meet deadlines in the workplace. It is important to list skills you are confident in so you can discuss the details and represent yourself properly.

Here are two ways to include these skills on your resume:

1. First, you can list goal-oriented skills on your resume directly within a ‘Skills’ section

If you have a separate section on your resume for listing relevant skills, include important goal-oriented skills in this section. For clarity, consider grouping these skills separately from technical or functional skills.

2. Second, you can include goal-oriented skills on your resume within descriptions of your experience

You can also include goal-oriented skills in your ‘Work/Professional Experience’ section. For example, you can list experience that demonstrates how you effectively planned and prioritized tasks then managed your time to complete a project before the deadline.