Goal Setting Strategies
Story Boarding
List topic areas under which goals will be set (ex. recruitment, academics, community service, scholarship, etc), then
brainstorm goals under each category by having members call out their ideas. Write ideas on index cards and tape them
under the appropriate topic. Each member is then given a predetermined number of stickers and asked to place them
on the goals they believe are most important. The goals can then be prioritized based on the number of “votes” each
goal received.
Paper Bag Exercise
Similar to Story Boarding, except organization goals are written on the outside of lunch sack size bags. Members are
given three pieces of paper and told to write their names on them. Each member will put their name into the bags
representing the goals to which they are willing to commit their time. These members can become the committee to
work on the achievement of that particular goal.
Also, you can use the paper bag exercise another way. List the goals on each bag, and ask members to write ideas for
accomplishing these goals on slips of paper. Members will put the papers into the appropriate bag, and these ideas can
be given to the officer/committee in charge of that area.
Priority Setting
Prepare worksheets ahead of time with headings reading Goals, Most Important, and Most Willing to Commit To. Ask
each member to list his/her top 3-5 things they want to see improved in the organization. Have everyone share their
top priority. As these are shared, have the members write done the priorities in the Goals column on their worksheet.
Once the list is completed, have members prioritize each of the goals in numerical order. If there are any discrepancies
(for example, if half the group thinks recruitment efforts are #1 priority and the other half thinks recruitment is #8), talk
about them and determine the importance overall for the organization. Then have members consider which goals they
would be most interested in working on. Consider these questions:
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What do we do is something is seen as really important, but no one wants to work on it?
How do we motivate other members to be involved in solving problems for the organization?
SWOT
SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. List these 4 categories and have members
brainstorm individually and then in small groups for each of these areas. Use the results to list your organization’s
strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. This can springboard discussion:
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How can we: capitalize on our strengths? Eliminate our weaknesses? Take advantage of our opportunities?
Avoid succumbing to our threats?
Group Goals
Have the entire organization brainstorm overall areas for which goals should be set. Once these are determined, divide
into groups, with one group devoted to each area (ex. recruitment, event planning). Have each small group determine
the goals for that area and write them on a piece of paper. Then have every group pass their paper to the next group,
and the new group can add any additional goals for that area. The goals can then be compiled and discussed by the
organization. This is a great way to get everyone involved in setting goals and planning how goals can be achieved.