Signet Goal Setting

Setting goals is not a process that most leaders enjoy.  But good leaders have bit the bullet and learned how to discipline themselves to do it.  We are going to learn this art together!  We will be setting 30-day, 60-day and 90-day goals.  Here are some tips to help you start thinking about your first goal. 

MEASURABLE:  Your goals should be measurable - not too abstract or broad. To say you need to improve your communication is pretty generic.  But to say you need to improve the way you facilitate a meeting or Bible study is more on target.  In order to complete a goal, you will need to identify action steps to take. 

PRACTICAL:  Set a goal that addresses a current need in your leadership life.  If you have an event coming in a few months, you should be setting goals that will help you prepare for that!

ACHIEVABLE:  Each of our goals will have a specific time frame.  Make sure your goal is possible in that amount of time.  For example, you can't efficiently plan a banquet for 500 people in 30 days.  That would be unreasonable.  Or if it's a 60 day goal and you know you have surgery scheduled during that time, don't bite off something that can't be interrupted during your recovery.  One of the major barriers to goal setting is that we don't think ahead - and it's one of the fruits of goal setting - to LEARN to think ahead!



Format Example (one of mine from last year):
Goal for Jan-Mar:  Plan out my own leadership development process for 2010.  What am I going to do to spur on my own growth?

Action Steps:

1. Facilitate a Signet group with AYM sponsors.
2. Request transcripts from Trinity.
3. Apply to take correspondence courses to pursue my state ministerial credentials.
4. Select 6-8 books to read this year and order them.
5. Talk to Pastor about accountability in my own leadership development (give him my book list).
6. Prepare information for the board about continuing education expenses.

Goal Examples (just to get the juices flowing):

• Time management with specific projects or events
• Developing an annual schedule for a specific area of ministry you’re leading
• Injecting creativity in how you lead your team or group
• Taking someone else under your wing in ministry
• Improve communication with those you work with
• Find a new way to serve the leader you’re working with (I love this one – haha) to add some variety and help them out
• Identify a task or duty that has been inefficient in your leadership life and find a way to improve it