Last month, we talked about the importance of doing staff reviews. If you would like to read that newsletter article, you can do so HERE. And, as we discussed, one of the important parts of a staff review is evaluating previous goals and setting new goals. This month, I want to share some helpful tips with you to make sure that when you are setting goals, that they are beneficial and realistic for your team.
First, make sure that your team is thinking big. If their goals are too small, then the entire process can seem pointless. If the goal that they are trying to work on only takes them a week to accomplish, then it will feel more like a task than a goal. Instead, think big. If possible, challenge your staff to think 2-3 years out, and help them set appropriate goals to get there. For example, if one of your staff members has a 2-year vision for their area of ministry, you can set goals every 6 months, and check-in with them along the way to make sure they are still on track.
Second, make sure you have a simple method in place for setting goals. If you don’t have one, consider using the SMART acronym. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. If the goals for your team are SMART, then you can have confidence that you are setting them up for success. But, without something like this, setting goals can be a challenge, and it will be hard to measure progress.
Third, make sure that you are following up with your team. Without accountability, goals will be forgotten. Whether you do this through informal check-ins or scheduled meetings, you want to make sure that you keep your finger on the pulse. And, to be clear, you are not doing this to micromanage them. Rather, you are doing this to help them as a servant leader. When you are checking in with them, ask how you can help them. Ask if there is anything you can do to come alongside them to help them be successful.
Being intentional when you are setting goals is hard work. It takes time, and it sometimes involves hard conversations. But, in the end, it’s worth it. My hope and prayer is that you will be intentional with this with your team. |
