Annual Personal Goal Setting - 5 Steps

by Sherri
(Los Ranchos, NM)

Twice a year, our team challenges ourself to improve physically, mentally, and intellectually. Here is our best method for developing that list of personal and team goals.

1 - Select one thing to do that will stimulate us mentally. For me, it is getting in front of people to teach. (I conduct leadership classes at the graduate level for our state university). I become completely clear and motivated when I am with others developing ideas. Taking a vigorous walk in a beautiful park also works.

2 - During that event, I take copious notes about what I want my next 6 months to look like, one list for me and one for the team.

3 - We all think about our lists and then bring them to a meeting. At that time, we refine and clarify them to something that MUST meet these criteria:
- has to be manageable (NOT overambitious)
- has to be something that we can visualize the outcome
- has to include one, two at the most, from each of the 3 categories: physical, mental, and intellectual

4 - We put them on the computer, and print out 2 copies. One copy stays somewhere in our regular meeting room where we see it regularly. The other is somewhere like my planner, dashboard, or at my desk.

5 - We review them as often as we can, with ONE big rule: If we are not hitting the mark - No Beating Ourselves Up. Simply put - just keep focusing on them, refine if needed, and you either get there, or you don't.
I find that when we have that flexibility, we are less likely to feel defeated. We can always update them.