Build A Planning Team
"GOOD OL' GOALS"
School administrators can easily build their staff into a cohesive
team by planning goals together. According to Webster, a goal is
"an end toward which effort is directed." In other words,
a goal is something you wish to attain, and you work together toward
that specific objective. A unit of individuals will become a team
through the pursuit of common goals, especially if they reach them.
If you and your staff want to set goals that can be reached, there
are certain criteria that must be established and considered during
the goal setting process.
- Goals must be UNDERSTANDABLE.
If the goal is stated
in nebulous terms, or if it has many indiscernible qualities,
then it will not be understood, and will be difficult for your
personnel to attempt to achieve.disagreement over the process
or the desired result, it will be unacceptable, and will probably
fail.
- Goals must be ACHIEVABLE.
If finances or other
resources make a stated goal impossible, then it cannot be achieved
and is a waste of time to discuss. It becomes a meaningless "pie
in the sky" objective with no real chance of accomplishment.
- Goals must be CONTROLLABLE.
Any good thing can
get out of hand if it is allowed to run rampant. Control must
be exerted to keep order and achieve a desired result.
- Goals must be MEASURABLE.
How long will it take
to accomplish this goal? How much money, personnel, space, or
whatever, will you need to make this goal a reality?
- Goals must be DESIRABLE.
The team must have a
positive emotional attachment to the goal if it is to succeed.
- Goals must be NON-OPTIONAL.
Goal setting is an
important part of planning in any organization. Once the goal
has been set and meets all the other criteria, it must be viewed
as a non-optional activity, and all efforts must be geared toward
meeting the stated goal.
- Goals must be GROWTH -FACILITATING.
If a goal
will not positively enhance your organization or the people involved,
then the goal is not viable, and should not even be considered.
It is absolutely necessary in your personal life or in the life
of your institution to set goals - goals for every day, every week,
every semester, every year, as well as the rest of your life. No
successful entity operates on a day to day basis hoping that it
will end up at the right place. The following statement, with a
little bit of introspection, should summarize a team’s attitude
concerning goals. IF WE’RE NOT SURE WHERE WE’RE GOING,
WE’RE LIABLE TO END UP SOMEPLACE ELSE AND NOT EVEN KNOW IT.
Written by:
Dr. Joyce Ellis
Vice President/President Elect, ACTS
Pasadena, Texas
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