New year, new you.
In January people typically organize themselves into two camps: those who are resolution-ready and those who are not. Some folks are energized by setting new personal and professional benchmarks to achieve, while others find the hype overly contrived and unsustainable.
Have you perfected your list of New Year’s resolutions, or are you waiting for the self-improvement obsessed to come back to earth in a few weeks?
In 2020 the word “intention” has replaced “resolution” as a guidepost for how we approach new goals. An intention is the act or instance of determining mentally upon some action or result. A resolution is the act of resolving or determining upon an action, course of action, method, or procedure. The literal difference is minimal, but the mindset gap is significant. Resolutions embody formality and finality of commitment to an endeavor; intentions, on the other hand, presume less pressure and feel easier for one to achieve.
Your organization’s 2020 intentions
Organizations, unlike individuals, do not have the luxury of choosing whether to set intentions this year. If your nonprofit does not establish strategic goals, it will be nearly impossible to focus on the most important priorities that move your mission forward. As your agency enters a new year, what are its intentions? How will your leaders and you work smarter, not harder, to achieve these milestones throughout the coming months?
At organizational development consulting firm Brighter Strategies, January is all about goal setting. We are here to support our clients and the nonprofit community at large in the Washington, DC, metro area to think and act more strategically in 2020. This starts with creating SMART goals that are tied to an annual strategic plan.
SMART goals are:
- Specific: Succinct and to-the-point
- Measurable: Include metrics against which you can benchmark progress
- Achievable: Ensure the goal is not too lofty to reach within the year
- Realistic: Define how the goal tangibly affects your organization’s mission, vision, and values
- Timely: Create a sense of urgency by establishing time-bound milestones for attainment
SMART goals give your organization a sense of purpose and direction. They are detailed enough to provide a blueprint for success, and they hold you accountable to the priorities you have determined to be most important in the new year.
Are you ready to set some goals for 2020? Brighter Strategies is excited to help your organization be more intentional as we walk into a new decade. Contact us today to learn more.