What is your goal for the task at hand?

Leading Change
Written By Stacia Aylward

The Challenge

The next time you begin a new task for a project, spend a few minutes drafting a one-sentence goal statement that defines the purpose of this task as it relates to the project. What benefit will the end user (or your team member/other stakeholder) gain from your contribution? For example, "Create clear documentation so anyone who works on this later will know what I changed," or, "Implement functionality XYZ so the user of this app can ______."

Why do this?

Clarifying how a task supports the overall project will help guide you as you complete that task.

Understanding how even the smallest tasks contribute to a project's vision helps you stay motivated and on track. Also, if a specific task no longer supports the vision, having a goal statement can help you realize that sooner and have a conversation around whether it's time to change direction.

What’s next?

Goal statements like these can also be extremely helpful for focusing a team. If you're working with one or more people on a specific element of a project, consider developing a goal statement together to guide both of your work.

Stacia Aylward

Zelos CEO Stacia C. Aylward is an executive leader and lifelong learner with broad professional experience in envisioning and leading programs, projects and teams; facilitating and teaching adults; conducting research; and developing client relationships using proven methodologies in many government and technical fields, including economics, education, healthcare, housing, non-profit governance, IT and law. Stacia holds a master’s degree in Communication and Information, a bachelor’s degree in English, a Six Sigma black belt certification, and a Coach Approach to Leadership credential.

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