Ever feel like you’re spinning your wheels and not getting anywhere? You’re busy but not productively busy? And those to-do lists? They just keep growing, right? Things slip through the cracks, and you’re like, ‘Oh man, I forgot about that!’ If this sounds familiar to you, check out SMART Goals.
What Are SMART Goals?
So, what’s the deal with SMART Goals anyway? They’re a helpful way to get your church moving in the right direction. They’re all about being specific, knowing if you’re hitting your targets, making sure targets are doable, keeping them relevant to your church’s mission, and putting a deadline on things.
SMART Goal Parameters
Let’s look at how you can set these up for your church. Think about things like:
- Spiritual Growth: Instead of saying “We want more people,” how about “We need a 10% increase in Sunday attendance by September 1st, 2025.”
- Community Outreach: Instead of just saying “We want to help,” how about “Let’s get our congregation to volunteer 1,000 hours of community service by the end of the year.”
- Financial Stability: Instead of just saying “We need more money,” how about “Let’s aim to increase our annual giving by 5% by September 30th.”
- Youth Ministry: Instead of just saying “We need a youth program,” how about “Let’s develop a new youth program with at least 20 participants by August 15th.”
See the difference? It makes what we want to achieve, clear.
And here’s the breakdown:
- Measurable: You must be able to track your progress. Think counting heads, tracking hours, looking at the books, you get the idea.
- Achievable: Be realistic! Don’t set impossible goals. Break those big goals down into smaller, bite-sized steps.
- Relevant: Make sure these goals matter to your church’s mission. They should be things that will help you move forward.
- Timely: Give yourself deadlines! It helps keep you on track.
Here’s a quick example:
- Instead of saying “We want more people at church,” try “We want to increase our average Sunday morning attendance by 10% by the end of the year. We’ll do a targeted outreach campaign and improve worship with a new music program.”
And some quick tips:
- Get your church leadership involved. It’s a team effort!
- Once you have buy-in from leadership, tell everyone! Get them excited.
- Keep an eye on how you’re doing. Adjust as needed.
- Celebrate those wins! Big or small.
- Don’t be afraid of setbacks. Learn from them.
Download this handy business card with SMART Goal reminders.
Remember, it’s not just about writing down goals, it’s about making things happen!
If you’d rather have someone walk you and your team through the SMART Goals, reach out. We can do a half-day workshop, either in person or online. Let’s get something set up.