[TEXT: Young African Leaders Initiative Online Training Series]
Sadhana Hall: I’m Sadhana Hall, and this is “Setting and Achieving Goals.” [TEXT: Setting and Achieving Goals]
In this lesson we will learn how to [TEXT: Learning Objectives]
define long and short-term goals, [TEXT: 1. Define long- and short-term goals.]
develop goals for the individual and for the team, [TEXT: 2. Develop goals for the individual and for the team.]
and follow basic steps to achieve long-term
and short-term goals. [TEXT: 3. Follow basic steps to achieve long-term and short-term goals.]
[TEXT: Sadhana Hall Deputy Director, Rockefeller Center at Dartmouth College] As a leader, you have a vision for what
you would like your organization to achieve.
Now, to make that vision a reality, you need to start with [TEXT: Make that vision a reality]
the end result in mind.
Long-term goals give you that general direction [TEXT: Long-term goals]
towards your vision. [TEXT: Vision]
Short-term goals or objectives are milestones along the way [TEXT: Short-term goals, Milestones]
that motivate you and keep you on track to [TEXT: Motivate]
your long-term goals.
They help you to acquire knowledge, organize your time [TEXT: Acquire knowledge, Organize time and resources]
and resources, so that you can reach your desired long-term
goals effectively and efficiently.
Short-term goals also help you to identify when midcourse [TEXT: Identify midcourse corrections]
corrections are needed in order to make progress towards
long-term goals.
As a leader, when you define your organizational goals, [TEXT: Define your organizational goals]
you use the same process we just talked about for addressing
the vision you seek to achieve — only this time,
consider how you will involve your team members. It’ll help [TEXT: Involve your team members]
you to capitalize on your team members’ knowledge and
capabilities to realize your vision.
How do you develop long-term and short-term goals?
Well, long-term goals give you a direction. [TEXT: Long-term goals give you a direction]
Most leaders have an idea of their long-term goals,
but often do not write them down or communicate [TEXT: Write down or verbally communicate your goals]
them verbally so that they can easily be shared with
team members who are implementing short-term [TEXT: Short-term objectives]
objectives. This results in a lack of clarity in the direction
everyone needs to go.
As a leader, your first task, then, is to develop your
long-term goals with your team members. Short-term goals
also should be developed with your team members.
Short-term goals are SMART. They’re specific, [TEXT: Specific]
they’re measurable, they’re appropriate, [TEXT: Measurable, Appropriate]
realistic and time-bound. [TEXT: Realistic, Time-bound]
Now, here are some basic steps to
achieve your long-term and corresponding short-term goals.
1. Develop your long-term goals and write them down. [TEXT: Develop your long-term goals]
Also, write down how you will measure success. [TEXT: Measure success]
When you are defining your goals, make sure
they’re realistic and be flexible. [TEXT: Realistic, Flexible]
Number 2. Define your short-term goals. [TEXT: Define your short-term goals]
For each short-term goal, you may consider developing
a chart. Establish who is doing what, and by when.
This process sets clear timelines, milestones and [TEXT: Timelines, Milestones]
establishes accountability. [TEXT: Accountability]
Identify how each short-term goal relates to and contributes
to the long-term goal.
Number 3. Identify all human, financial and material
resources needed and available. [TEXT: Identify resources needed]
Number 4. Have an idea of how you will deal with unexpected challenges [TEXT: Plan for unexpected challenges]
and have alternative approaches to reach your short-term goals.
Number 5. Periodically, when you are implementing short-term goals,
step back, assess your long-term goals with your team, and [TEXT: Assess your long-term goals]
determine whether you need to change course.
Be flexible and adapt to changes. [TEXT: Adapt to changes]
Number 6. At all times, it is important for you and your team to stay in
your “circle of influence” [TEXT: Stay in your circle of influence] — that is, things you
have influence over.
Do not spend your time in your “circle of concern” —
that is, things that concern you but you have no control over.
If you find you’re facing a challenge and feel that it
will introduce change, be clear and transparent about [TEXT: Be clear and transparent]
communicating the nature of that challenge to your team and work
with them to develop solutions to address the challenge.
Change is often difficult, so be prepared to support your team
members through it.
Also, being a leader is a lonely position but it becomes less
isolating when you and your team members share the same vision [TEXT: Share the same vision]
and work towards addressing the same challenges. [TEXT: Addressing the same challenges]
Remember, the very act of moving from a vision to a reality can
bring out the best in you because it’ll give you
a sense of purpose and accomplishment. [TEXT: Purpose and accomplishment]
Ultimately, your vision should and will continually evolve into
something greater because your learning related to that vision
becomes richer and deeper.
[TEXT: Test Your Knowledge YALI.state.gov] After you’ve completed all the units in this course at YALI dot
State dot gov, you can test your knowledge and earn a
YALI Network certificate. [TEXT: YALINetwork Produced by the U.S. Department of State]