KidCheck Secure Children's Check-In SharesUsing SMART Goals to Boost Productivity

When serving children and youth, there is no shortage of tasks competing for your attention. Lesson planning, organizing events, recruiting volunteers, and building relationships with families create a list that feels endless and overwhelming. This may make setting and achieving goals seem daunting. What if you could work smarter, not harder, using the SMART goals framework?

SMART goals are defined as Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Using this framework provides a way to focus your efforts, easily accomplish objectives, and increase productivity.

So, how can it help you achieve short-term goals and impact your organization?

 

 

1. Begin With a Specific Goal

For this first step, try not to be too vague. An example of an unclear goal is “I want more volunteers.” This goal lacks clarity. Instead, ask yourself these questions to make your goal more specific.

  • What precisely am I trying to accomplish?
  • Who can help?
  • Why is this goal important?

Once you answer those questions, your goal may change to: “I will recruit three new volunteers to serve in children’s ministry by the end of this month.” Being more specific helps you stay focused, adds clarity, and gives you a clear starting point.

2. Quantify Your Goals

This refers to adding measurable criteria to track and measure progress. Without it, you can feel directionless. Consider asking yourself:

  • How will I know when I have reached my goal?
  • What milestones can I establish?

An example could be, instead of saying, “I want to increase attendance for youth ministry,” say, “We will increase weekly attendance by 10% within six months.”

Having measurable goals allows you to recognize and celebrate your achievements while providing flexibility to adjust when needed.

3. Keep Goals Attainable

There’s a place for big dreams, but setting unrealistic goals can lead to frustration. It’s important to look at your available resources, time, and support. Consider the following:

  • Is this goal realistic, considering my current situation?
  • Do I have the necessary resources and support to achieve this?

Example: While recruiting and onboarding 15 new volunteers in under a week may be unrealistic, recruiting five and completing their training in 30 days is likely attainable. Achievable goals keep people motivated and closer to success.

4. Establish Relevant Goals

 Relevant goals focus on factors that directly impact kids, youth, families, and volunteers and should align with your organization’s priorities and mission. Ask yourself these questions:

  • Does this goal support the organizational mission?
  • Is the timing right to pursue this goal?

Let’s say your organization is experiencing volunteer burnout. To address this issue, you might set the goal: “I will develop and execute a volunteer appreciation program by the end of the first quarter to help retain our volunteers throughout the year.” When goals contribute to the broader mission, they are automatically relevant and drive meaningful contributions.

5. Set Goals with a Deadline

 Deadlines help prioritize tasks and create urgency. Without a timeframe, it’s easy to put things off or procrastinate. Consider these time-bound questions:

  • When do I need or want to achieve this goal?
  • What tasks can I take and complete to help move closer to my goal?

An example of a time-bound goal is, “I will design, print, and distribute a welcome packet to new families within the next two weeks.” By assigning a timeframe to your goal, you enhance accountability and ensure progress.

Putting It Together

 Let’s combine the five SMART goal components into a single goal.

Goal: “By the end of the quarter, I will recruit five new volunteers to serve in children’s ministry by hosting two interest meetings, sending three email campaigns, and personally reaching out and inviting 10 potential candidates.”

Here’s the breakdown:

  • Specific: Recruiting five children’s ministry volunteers.
  • Measurable: Two interest meetings. Three emails. 10 invitations.
  • Achievable: Focused on a reachable number.
  • Relevant: Addresses staffing needs.
  • Time-bound: The deadline is the end of the quarter.

Staying the Course

To stay on track, consider breaking the goals into smaller steps, such as dividing them into weekly or daily tasks. This will help make your schedule feel less overwhelming. You can also consider a simple checklist to help organize and track progress. Most importantly, remember to celebrate your wins and acknowledge progress.

Click here to learn more about the benefits of using secure mobile Express Check-In, children’s and youth check-in, and volunteer scheduling to help manage your events.

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Sources:

How to write SMART goals

Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash