Ready to launch your next group project? Then you might be gearing up for a planning meeting, work gatherings geared towards laying out a project’s goals and how the team will achieve them. Defining team goals can be easier said than done. You need clarity, communication, and a clear path to the end result.
Maybe you’re a group of three with a leadership team meeting on the horizon. Perhaps you’re planning a project kick-off for a 20-person agency. Whatever group you’re leading, the following steps may help you develop a project plan that your team can conquer.
Focus on the right goal
Ambition can be great fuel for making big things happen. But presenting too many goals at once could be overwhelming and might ultimately keep your team from staying on task.
If you’re struggling to narrow your focus for your next planning meeting, ask yourself what your business or organization needs most right now. Maybe it’s new clients, more community involvement, fresh ideas, or greater brand awareness. Think about what outcome would have the greatest impact at this time, and center your efforts on that.
Break it down into small, measurable goals
Once you feel confident in your focus, it’s time to build the path to success. You’ll do so by deconstructing your big goal into S.M.A.R.T. goals—goals that are small, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. A project planning meeting is the perfect time to simplify big, daunting goals by laying them out step-by-step.
Assign individual goals
With a list of S.M.A.R.T. goals now defined, you can envision how each team member will contribute to the outcome. Assign these small and attainable tasks based on the skills that each team member brings to the table. This is an opportunity to acknowledge the potential of everyone on your team and how they contribute to the group.
Create deadlines
Once you’ve clarified each person’s role and responsibilities, you can move on to building a timeline for the project. Use your planning meeting to identify any task dependencies so you can prioritize deadlines accordingly. You can also discuss what tools you'll use to keep track of the project as it progresses.
Setting realistic deadlines can take some practice, but breaking goals down into smaller steps helps. Deadlines that are clear and understood will help give structure to the collective team efforts.
Check-in regularly
No matter the projected timeline of the project, regular check-ins are a must. They’ll help your team stay on track, and give you a chance to celebrate what you’ve accomplished so far.
Remember that S.M.A.R.T. goals are measurable. Small, measurable goals will give you and your team members a clear view of progress as you move forward.
Acknowledge success
Whether or not you reach your goal exactly as imagined, it’s essential to acknowledge your progress rather than focus on what still needs to happen. Practicing self-compassion is one of our favorite ways to stay successful and happy at work, and is key to feeling good about your accomplishments. Pause to recognize what your team has accomplished and they will feel seen, appreciated, and ready for what comes next.
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