On the Frontlines: 10 Ways to Make Goals Stick

Over the years, I’ve watched internal auditors set the same ambitious career goals year after year, without seeing tangible results or any real progress. The goals were not achieved because they forgot about the basics of goal setting — for instance, ensuring goals are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound (SMART). It’s a simple but highly effective concept. Career goals fail because auditors treat goals like wish lists. Careers grow through structured systems, not wishes.

Internal auditors shouldn’t wait for their annual performance review or a one-to-one with their manager to think about growth. It must be built into their existing routines. Auditors should treat their career goals like an audit — with clear deliverables, deadlines, and accountability.

Here are ten pieces of practical advice that work:

1. Identify your weakest area.

Be honest with yourself — we all have at least one weaker area. Avoiding it will not propel you forward. Honest reflection sets a strong foundation for relevant and realistic goals.

Data analytics? Communication? Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Risk assessment? Stakeholder management? Pick the skill that's holding you back in your career and improve it.

2. Pick one certification/technical skill/soft skill to focus on at a time.

Stop saying you'll obtain CIA, CRMA, CISA, build an AI agent and improve stakeholder management skills, all at once. Prioritize them, choose one, and finish it before moving onto the next.

Large goals can be overwhelming, so divide them into manageable steps. If your aim is to earn a professional certification, outline the specific actions: Register for the exam, schedule study sessions, join a study group, etc.

3. Set a clear deadline for each goal.

"This year" is not a deadline. Q3 2026 is the deadline. The clearer your goals are, the easier they are to track and achieve.

4. Block time weekly for development.

Let’s face it; we are all busy! Block time for development activities in the same way we do for audit fieldwork. Two hours every Friday afternoon. Make it non-negotiable.

5. Find one person doing what you want to do.

Reach out for a coffee. Ask questions. Learn from their path.

6. Track your progress, monthly.

What gets measured gets completed. What got done? What didn't and why? Stay agile and adjust or abandon goals that aren't working. These checkpoints allow us to celebrate achievements and recalibrate if situations change.

7. Stop comparing yourself to other internal auditors.

Focus on your own growth. We are all unique and on our own journey. The highlights of others aren't your reality.

8. Connect each career goal to something specific, such as a promotion, role change, or departmental key performance objectives.

If it doesn't move your career forward, why are you doing it? Connect your goals to what gets rewarded or valued. Align with your organization’s strategy, risk landscape, or what is important in the wider internal audit profession.

9. Tell someone about your goals.

Hold transparent discussion with your manager, a mentor, or a peer. Accountability transforms intention into action. Regular check-ins, whether formal or informal, can help internal auditors stay on track and provide encouragement.

10. Accept that some goals will fail.

You'll get busy. Priorities will shift, and you’ll need to pivot. That's fine. Recognize that setbacks are part of the journey. Celebrate incremental progress and effort, even if you haven’t achieved every single goal.

The internal auditors who achieve their career goals aren't the ones with perfect New Year’s resolutions and goals. They're the ones who keep showing up when progress is slow and messy. Consistency matters.