As 2018 comes to a close, now is the perfect time to set goals for 2019. Goal setting is immensely important for overall success—both personally and professionally. After all, if you’re not setting goals, how will you know what to reach for?
We’ve all heard of S.M.A.R.T. goals—the concept that goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. But there’s a bit more to consider when setting goals to ensure that you stay motivated to achieve them long after their creation.
Entreprenuer.com contributor Jeffrey Hayzlett published an article on The 5 Golden Rules of Goal-Setting, and provided some great insight on achieving objectives. We want to share three of his rules and some ways that they can help you lead your school to support your school's mission in 2019 and beyond.
- Your goal must motivate you. Many of us set goals in the beginning of the year that we know are good for us—I’ll read more self-help books, I’ll get to the gym more often. But if you feel dread every time you open the door to the gym or you just can’t work up the enthusiasm to crack open that Daniel Pink book, those goals aren’t going to last very long. Instead, pick goals that you’re inspired to achieve—and that are compatible with your everyday life. Maybe you’re more apt to listen to podcasts on your way to work or taking a walk after a long day is more your speed. Professionally, it might not make sense to resolve to implement new leadership processes that don’t jibe with your personal style. Any goals must align with your internal motivation to be successful.
- Write your goals down every week. There is power in writing down what you plan to achieve. But don’t write your goals down once and forget about them—write your goals down each week. By keeping your goals in the forefront of your mind, you’re more likely to continue working to achieve them.
- Put a plan into action. It’s not enough to set out to achieve big goals. You need a plan with smaller, milestone goals along the way. Breaking down each goal into smaller, actionable steps makes your larger goal easier to accomplish. If your professional goal is to redo your school’s strategic plan, that’s a big initiative! Smaller goals could be to read research on strategic planning, attend a workshop to learn more about what constitutes a solid strategic plan, and talk to peers at other schools who have successfully created and implemented their own initiative.
A new year is a fresh start for setting personal and professional goals. Consider these tips as you create yours, and make 2019 your most successful year yet!
Additional ISM resources:
The Source for Private School News Vol. 17 No. 4 Be a Healthier You in 2018
The Source for Private School News Vol. 13 No. 12 Three Research-Based Ways to Keep Your Year’s Resolutions
Additional ISM resources for members:
I&P Vol. 30 No. 11 Change and the Implementation Dip
