As a DECA member, you clearly have a passion for the organization.
Before jumping into your goals for the year, it’s important to start with that passion. Why is DECA important? What can DECA do for the students in your school and your community? In a few sentences, explain your vision for your DECA chapter. If it was everything that it could be, what would it be? Use this vision as a guide as you are setting goals for your chapter.
Goal setting is important for many reasons:
- Goals help define a clear direction to work toward
- Goals create motivation within an organization
- Goals give a clear understanding of ideas and responsibilities for group members
- Goals provide a concrete means of measuring progress and success
- Goal setting can be a teambuilding exercise for individuals to become committed to the organization.
Established goals should be SMART:
- S - Specific
- M - Measurable
- A - Action-oriented
- R - Realistic
- T - Timely
Here is a simple process that can help with goal setting and realizing those goals:
1. BRAINSTORM: Gather together and record all ideas. No matter what, don’t evaluate or criticize ideas at this point.
2. NARROW FOCUS: Discuss the ideas created during brainstorming. Now, narrow the list to a more manageable and practical list.
3. STATE GOALS: Now you have a few attainable goals. They should be stated broadly at first, then narrowed to the details.
- Raise money . . . Add $200 to our budget by the end of the semester.
- Secure speakers . . . We will host educational guests speakers during the year.
4. SET OBJECTIVES: Objectives are smaller steps necessary to achieve your goals. To set objectives, follow the same guidelines for starting goals.
- By the end of the semester, we will add $200 to our budget . . . We will raise money by holding two bake sales.
- We will secure educational guest speakers during the year . . . Our chapter will host two speakers each semester.
5. SET UP A TIMELINE: Frame your ideas in the context of other goals - and your obligations as students - or they might fall by the wayside. Pencil in dates on a calendar and distribute a copy of it to each member.
6. FOLLOW THROUGH: Refer to your goals every time you meet to make sure you are remaining focused. If adjustments need to be made, feel free.
7. INVOLVEMENT: Involve as many members as possible in the process from brainstorming to when goals are actually accomplished. Involvement leads to commitment.
