Goal Setting Exercise

Identify the major elements of the project. Start with the goals of each team member and the goals of the project. Complete the following Goal-Setting Exercise and list your personal goals.

Step One

1. Each team member should write down three short-term goals. These are goals that you should be able to accomplish or begin to accomplish during the project. Before you begin formulating your three short-term personal goals, give yourself a reality check.

1. Do you take the risk of telling people exactly how you behave or do you tell people how you wish you could behave?
2. Are there skills, abilities, and knowledge you possess that can be developed further by being honest about how you act in collaborative situations?
3. What are your competencies?
4. What competencies do you need to develop further?
5. Do you have the ability to abandon emotional responses (like blaming people) when the unexpected happens and help your team members clarify what inside or outside forces contributed to the frustrations or unexpected circumstances in your project?

Step Two

2. Present your three goals to the team. Discuss whether or not you think you can accomplish the goals within the context of the team task. Will you have to make changes in your life to make the personal goals work within the context of the team's goals? When a team members succeeds in accomplishing a personal goal it motivates team members to accomplish the team goals.

3. Remember to incorporate these goals into your action plan.