Pinpointing the goal

http://yourperfecttrainer.com/blog/podcast/episode-24-goals-setting-part-2-jordan-goldberg-stickk-com-discusses-goals-accountability/

     

          I feel like I am a bit closer to pinpointing my goal. Michelle has provided me with some guiding questions which really helped me to reshape my goal and narrow it down to something much more manageable. My big picture problem is managing a group of educators who have some internal conflict within their program area. The personal conflict  and dysfunction of the group has inhibited positive outcomes for the program and unfortunately has affected the students to some degree. I'm not saying the students are not meeting the learning outcomes or that the program is delivering subpar education; I am saying that the internal conflict is affecting the overall environment of this particular program. The individuals in this group are highly skilled professionals and excellent educators; however, team spirit has been lost and the individual members are blaming each other for breakdown. This situation is not new, a long standing history exists amongst some of the staff members. The group rarely functions as a "team." 

     I want to facilitate change within the program and encourage collaboration amongst the staff in hopes of fostering a sense of caring and commitment in the program; along with respect for one another. Michelle has pointed out that cultural change takes a very long time and change needs to be incremental.  As the person who is currently responsible for this program, I need to evaluate and develop my leadership skills to support this program but not let this program consume all of my time at the expense of the other programs in my portfolio,


I have to consider all of the following criteria in my inquiry:

• students
• staff morale
• staff professional development 
• collaboration
• respect among staff
• negative attitudes affecting students 
• my leadership style 
• my leadership skills
• positive attitudes
• conflict management 
• facilitating good conflict 
• care and respect 
• long term improvement 

 

Setting the Goal

http://www.abc.net.au/health/features/stories/2014/09/25/4094450.htm

My first dilemma is to set my goals. This is not a easy task for me. The following quote captured my original thoughts and feelings about the setting goals: "I hate goals!" Many of us loathe the idea of setting goals: we find them restrictive, stifling, and guilt-inducing. The mere mention of goals can raise hackles: "don't talk to me about goals", "I'd rather just get on with it."(Grant, 2014). I would much rather just get on with it, but.... I must make an overall assessment of what I want to achieve and what is realistic. Although I want to make my "big picture" problem go away; I have to consider the smaller steps to get there. It's very much like training for a half marathon. I can't just starting running and hope to make it to the finish line. I am bound to burn out and "hit a wall" and never reach my goal. I need to have a clear plan and work my way through one kilometre at time. So if I can set goals for my training, why was it challenging for me to set a goal for my SRL inquiry? I had less difficulty identifying the distal goal; however, I have been spending significant amount of time narrowing it down to my proximal goal. time pinpointing a proximal goal.       

    

References
Grant A. (2014). ABC Health and Wellbeing. Retrieved from
http://www.abc.net.au/health/features/stories/2014/09/25/4094450.htm#artShareLinks