It’s one thing to talk about setting goals , but doing it — especially when you’re just starting out in your career — can be daunting when you’re unsure what’s realistic or even where to begin.
We kickstarted the year with two art professionals Lindsay Dewar, Chief Operating Officer at Art Tactic and Chloé Taltas, Senior Development Manager at the ICA, chatting through their tips on making goal-setting less daunting, avoiding common pitfalls, and balancing ambition with healthy boundaries. Moderated by Alexandra Steinacker-Clark.
Click here to watch back the event recording.
Here are our 5 Tips on Setting Healthy Professional Goals and Boundaries:
1) Boundaries Are an Investment in Yourself and Your Career
“You shouldn't feel guilty about setting boundaries and having your own time because it's also an investment in your love for art. I've seen people burn out and lose their passion because it's too much, so it's all about thinking about it as an investment for your career as well as yourself.“
Tip: It is also not your managers responsibility to set and maintain boundaries - you are the only one who knows your own limits.
2) Set Boundaries Early in New Roles
“If there's one thing I've learned from starting new jobs is that you want to set those boundaries as quickly as possible. It's really hard to re-shift with time. I think first impressions really stick in that sense - It's coming in knowing your worth and how you want to spend your time.“
3) Recognize and Manage Inner Boundaries
“I chose my job because I wanted to learn so much, and there were so many new parts of the role that I didn't know about - which sometimes leaves you facing a big load of imposter syndrome... it's sometimes also setting them within yourself, and shutting the mouth of the inner critic that is so strong and the pressure that you sometimes feel.“
4) Claim Back Personal Time
“It is quite relevant to a lot of roles in the art world, where you have to work on a weekend: You're at an art fair over the weekend, you have to attend a private view in the evening, your personal time gets encroached on all the time. The key is being able to make sure that you take it back. If you're transparent [with your employer] about it, and you let people know, that can work really well.“
Tip: August is typically a quiet month for the art world, making it an ideal time to schedule some time off and use the downtime to reflect and set your goals for the year ahead
5) The Power of Saying No
“Avoid being a ‘yes man’. I went through a phase of trying to say yes to everything and I think actually saying no or saying 'I need to think about that, come back to me’ can be really powerful. You might not achieve what you want to if you're blindly saying yes to lots of different things and overloading yourself.“
BONUS TIPS:
Coming soon is the Sophie Macpherson x ArtTactic 2025 Art World Talent Report which promises to be a valuable resource offering benchmarks for professionals to negotiate pay.
Consider negotiating other benefits if a pay rise isn't a possibility - like a NXT GEN membership, a patron membership to the ICA or a visit to an international art fair