How to Set Values-Based Goals for 2025
People with goals are 10 times more likely to succeed. That’s the kind of momentum I want as I head into 2025.
I've worked with others to set goals for years. I've coached people through career transitions. And I've led project teams with a specific goal in mind so I know how important a goal can be.
In this episode, I’m bringing you some recommendations for setting better goals so you can gain that momentum as you set out to achieve the things you want in 2025.
Listen to the episode or scroll down to read the blog post ↓
Key Points:
00:58 The impact of setting goals
02:17 What to do before you start setting goals
08:25 How to set your goals for 2025
Click here to listen on Apple Podcasts. While you're there, subscribe to be the first to know about new episodes!
How to Set Values-Based Goals for 2025
Are you busy setting goals for 2025?
Many of us work in a culture that is performance-based so our organizations put pressure on us to set goals and achieve them, but many of us also set our own goals, just like those New Year's resolutions we try to achieve each year.
I did a quick Google search about goal setting stats, and here's what I found:
People with goals are 10 times more likely to succeed!
I don't know about you, but I want that kind of momentum.
I've worked with others to set goals for years. I've coached people through career transitions. And I've led project teams with a specific goal in mind so I know how important a goal can be.
I'm bringing you some recommendations for setting better goals so you can gain that momentum as you set out to achieve the things you want in 2025.
In this blog post, we’re covering the following:
1) Goal Setting Step One: Reflect on Your Values
The first thing you're going to do before you set any goals is reflect on your values.
What do you value?
It could be:
Adventure
Feeling competent
Fairness
Honesty
Kindness
Peace
A sense of security
Success
There are a number of things you might value in life, so take a few moments before you start setting your goals to identify your top three to four values.
If you aren't sure where to start, you can search for a values list online and use the words on those lists to brainstorm. You don't have to pick a word from the list, but use it to jog your memory and get yourself started.
2) Goal Setting Step Two: Reflect on Your Current Year
The second step is to reflect on your current year. You can do that by answering these questions:
1. What are your biggest accomplishments when you look back on the year?
One of my biggest accomplishments this year was growing the Nonprofit L&D Collective. It's my private community for nonprofit L&D pros, where we're building a network, sharing resources, and getting an inside look at what other nonprofits are doing.
This year I set a goal to grow this group and we now have L&D pros from over 70 nonprofits in four countries in this group.
2. How did it feel to accomplish those things?
For me, growing the collective was a goal that I had and it feels really good to see where we are at the end of the year.
I mostly use LinkedIn when I'm marketing this group. Bad sales pitches and cold calls have given people a really bad taste in their mouths for consultants so when I reach out to someone and I connect with them, I can almost feel their hesitation.
But I'm not throwing bad sales pitches into the world.
I'm providing an opportunity for connection, to talk to people who understand you, and to get new ideas from people who get what it's like to work in nonprofit.
So it feels good.
Every time I get a notification that someone signed up to join this group, it's evidence that people want this and it's motivation to continue working on it.
3. Who supported or encouraged you along the way?
I love this question. We can get so busy doing things that we forget who made it possible.
My assistant Allison is my cohost in the Nonprofit L&D Collective and she works tirelessly to make sure people feel welcome.
I've taken courses throughout the year to help me create better content on LinkedIn, create authentic connections, and provide a good community experience.
The people in the Collective have supported me every time they show up for an event, respond to an email, or like or share a LinkedIn post about the group. They're supporting this effort. They're supporting me.
4. What are you thankful for?
What are you thankful for when you think about your year?
I'm thankful that I have the resources to build this group - it takes time and intentionality, and I'm putting a lot into it. I'm thankful that I have the ability to do that.
5. Were your values being met?
Now, let's circle back to those values.
Were your values being met in your work, career, and life this year?
My values are absolutely aligned with this work. I believe in the power of relationships and I value the openness that we are creating. We're breaking down barriers in the nonprofit sector so we can all learn from each other. This group very much aligns with my values.
Is what you worked on this year aligned with your values? If your answer is no, the last question is for you.
6. What changes might need to be made to align your work with your values?
This is an interesting one for me because my work on this particular goal does align with my values, but I also value productivity and impact so I'm constantly assessing the group.
Are we doing the right things?
Is it valuable for people?
I know that as the group grows, I'm going to need to create a better system to collect that feedback and adapt more quickly. If I don't, I might start to feel out of sync with those two values.
It's about being aware of where you are in sync and where you aren't, or where you have the potential to get out of step.
3) Goal Setting Step Three: Set Your Values-Based Goals
Step three is to set your goals for the new year with your values in mind.
Ask yourself questions like:
What do I want to accomplish next year?
How does that align with my values?
What skills will I need to accomplish that goal?
How do I want it to feel as I work towards that goal?
How do I want it to feel when that goal has been accomplished?
Who do I want to support me in that process?
Answer those questions and use the answers to form your goals for the year.
4) Goal Setting Step Four: Write Down Your Goal and Create Action Steps
Step four is to write down your goals and create action steps for them.
A study out of Dominican University in California found that when you write your goals down, your chances of accomplishing those goals increase by 42%.
So write it down and put it somewhere you can see it.
Then, break that goal down into smaller steps.
Do you need to learn something? Do you need to do something? Make those steps small and then distribute those smaller steps over the course of your year, quarter, or however you want to track your goal.
Then, schedule time on your calendar each month to check in on those goals.
Sometimes we set those goals and then we forget about them - things get in our way, our priorities shift, or we get busy. Schedule time on your calendar now for each month to check in on those goals.
If you want to increase your chances of achieving your goal even more, tell someone. Share your goal with a friend, a mentor, or an accountability partner.
To hear the full conversation I had on the Learning for Good Podcast, scroll all the way up and tune into episode 113.
The Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective
Helping to change the world for good is hard enough as it is. Finding good support shouldn’t be difficult, too.
I know what it feels like to want someone to bounce ideas off of and to learn from, someone who really understands you and your work.
Nonprofit L&D leaders have been overlooked for too long. You need a place where you can meet like-minded talent development pros, learn from industry leaders and tech vendors, and find the support you need to make a real impact.
Thankfully, great nonprofit support is no longer hard to find or financially inaccessible.
Welcome to the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective – the only community specifically for nonprofit talent development professionals.
When you join this community, you will walk away with a new, diverse, and powerful network – and a sounding board for your staff development needs.
So if you're ready to exchange ideas and collaborate with your peers, come join the Nonprofit L&D Collective.
