Nine-year-old Max wanted to go in a 5-kilometre fun run, but he thought the distance was beyond him.
His parents did an incredible thing.
They didn’t console him and tell him he could do it when he was older. Instead, they got to work preparing him for the event.
They broke the 5 kilometres into smaller, attainable steps.
First, Max ran a kilometre, stopping a couple of times. After he could run one kilometre without stopping, they gradually increased the distance to two, then three, until he could complete five kilometres.
“Yep, he completed the fun run as a very happy and proud boy.”
He’d learned the value of determination and sticking to a task.
But more significantly, he learned a system he can use to achieve anything. That system is goal setting.
It’s about the system.
James Clear, author of the amazing book Atomic Habits says that the strength of goal setting is in the system it teaches, rather than the results it achieves.
He’s right.
When we teach kids a system to help them reach a goal, it’s the process rather than the result that will transform their life.
Teach kids systems for success.
As a parent, I taught my kids the systems they needed to become independent. They learned to make lists to aid their memories, create charts to help them sequence their morning routine, and understand the importance of anchoring—linking a new activity to an old one to make new habits stick.
I taught them the goal-setting system to help them achieve success in any area of their lives. This process has obviously stuck, as Max’s mum is my daughter. Goal-setting is second nature to her, and she applies it to every area of her life.
Now she’s passing the system on to her sons.
Elements of successful goal setting.
Despite the many formulas you’ll find on the Internet, there’s no magic recipe for goal setting. However, from my experience working with students over four decades, I’ve learned that successful goal setting (for kids) includes the following 5 elements:
- Start with small goals so kids experience immediate success.
- Use measurable steps so they know they’re making ground.
- Establish a realistic time frame so they don’t lose interest.
- Build small rewards along the way to maintain motivation.
- Make it enjoyable so kids have some fun along the way.
Goal setting is a leadership (and success) system.
If school leaders are not taught goal-setting, students leave without learning a vital system for success.
Knowing how to set and work towards goals is invaluable for any student, whether they aspire to leadership or just want to achieve success in any aspect of their lives.
And it’s systems rather than skills that separate the good from the great whether it’s schools, teachers or students (and student leaders.)
The Young Leaders Goal Setting Guide is now available. It includes worksheets, teacher notes, and everything you need to start teaching goal setting immediately. Ideal for upper primary school students. Available as a stand-alone resource or in money-saving packages. Find out more.