However, setting long-term goals without a well-thought-through process as to how to implement them often ends failure. For this reason, it is better to set goals which are specific and easier to formulate.

On the Springboard, Your Virtual University, a Sunday evening radio programme on Joy FM, a Lecturer of Ashesi University, Dr Esi Ansah, underlined the need for people to plan their career in order to achieve the desired future and explained that refusing to plan was grounds for failure in the life of an individual or an organisation.

Dr Ansah is a social scientist who teaches human resource management, leadership IV, negotiation and creative problem-solving and organisational behaviour at Ashesi University.

She appeared on the March 19, 2017 edition of the show on the topic: “AGENDA 2027: Focusing on the next 10 years and how to gain mastery in your area of endeavour” to discuss some of the critical factors that drive success in an individual’s career path.

The series is expected to inspire and motivate audience throughout the country to inculcate the art of planning into the youth.

Unforeseen circumstance

She observed that the rate at which the world was changing made it crucial for an individual or an entity to plan in order to withstand any unforeseen circumstances.

“In an era where the dynamics of the market is directly linked to the evolving technology, planning one’s future is very crucial to the survival of the person or the entity in question,” she said on a programme hosted by Rev. Albert Ocran.

The lecturer explained that planning for the next 10 years in one’s career path was an important factor that gives a better chance in the life of an individual to succeed.

She noted that with the rate at which the world keeps changing, it would be impossible for any individual to withstand unexpected storm if planning was not done.

Intentional mapping

Defining career planning as intentional mapping of a journey, she said that consisted of mapping out one’s plans, resources, interest, purpose, opportunities, strength and challenges for the future.

The astute lecturer added that career planning required backwards planning which involved an individual locating his or her future and working towards achieving it.

“A good plan must be written down and efforts made to ensure that those plans are achieved. This is because growth naturally comes with new directions and opportunities which an individual could restructure and take advantage of,” she said.

Given that career planning is essential to success, she stated that many people planned their career according to the market but ended up failing because “the market keeps changing at a fast pace.”

“Therefore, if you plan according to the market, you will find yourself chasing the market rather than getting the market to chase you. So, if you plan according to transient interest, then you are setting yourself to excel in one particular area and if you are able to excel in your field, the market will begin chasing after you,” she added.

Knowledge dimensions

Dr Ansah noted that for an individual to succeed, he or she must develop his or her career along four separate knowledge dimensions which include head, hand, heart and feet.

Head or cognitive knowledge: This involves repositioning oneself to learn through both formal and informal structures of education. This is because learning is very important to equip young ones to acquire the right entrepreneurial skills in order to survive the changing trend in the world of business.

Hands or skill knowledge; This form of knowledge also consists of acquiring education through both formal and informal means. It requires an individual to identify his or her educational path to accelerate growth in the future.

The lecturer said it was important for the youth to plan whether to take advantage of “a master's degree programme which prepares people for the industry or Ph.D programme that prepares people for research and academic work.”

“Therefore, choosing a career path requires that people make choices that will be relevant for their future. It also requires informal education which involves mentoring, apprenticeship and learning from others. Observing will let you see the how, but education will let you see the why and also help you to understand and make it yours,” she added.

Heart or interest knowledge: The heart knowledge is who an individual has become, his or her interest. This should include measures an individual has or intends to adopt to ensure the future is realised.

“So if you want to be an investment banker, you should be reading books in the area of investment banking. Therefore, the heart level involves the measures one intends to adopt to achieve the future,” Dr Ansah explained.

Feet or planning knowledge: It involves setting smart goals in order to achieve them in the future. This is because career planning is a continuous process of thinking about one’s interest, values, skills and preferences, exploring life, work and learning options available and ensuring that work fits into personal circumstances.