Goal setting isn’t just about dreaming big; it’s about taking small, purposeful steps that align with what matters most to you.
As we step into 2025, there’s real power in focusing on incremental change. Even a 1% improvement can create ripples of progress for yourself, your community, and the networks around you. Imagine what could happen if those small changes inspired others to do the same.
To help you make the most of your vision for 2025, the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation have put together practical tips to help you set meaningful goals and make them a reality – whether they’re big, small, or somewhere in between.
Reflections sow seeds for future success
Reflection is the foundation of effective goal setting. Before you start writing down your goals, you may want to consider the following prompts:
- What moments in 2024 made you proud? What enabled those successes?
- What obstacles have you faced in the past, and how did you handle them? If you didn’t overcome them, why not?
- Which habits or strategies supported you? Which ones hindered your progress?
Let’s use an example of a goal to grow a community garden in your town.
Firstly, reflect on what steps you took to initiate similar projects in the past.
Did you engage with others effectively? Were there funding challenges? Writing these reflections down can help you refine your approach.
The power of chunking
Big goals can feel overwhelming, but “chunking” them into smaller steps makes them achievable. Research from the Australian School of Business at University of New South Wales highlights how task complexity influences goal effectiveness, emphasising that breaking down large tasks into manageable components leads to higher success rates.
Steps to chunk goals:
- Define the goal: For example, growing a community garden.
- Break it down: Identify every small action needed to achieve the goal.
- Set milestones: Assign timelines to each step.
- Prioritise: Focus on one chunk at a time to avoid distractions.
For our community garden example, you may need to:
- Research local gardening needs.
- Speak to community members about their interest.
- Identify a suitable location.
- Meet with local councils and community stakeholders for permissions.
- Recruit volunteers through social media or local groups.
- Plan initial costs and create a budget.
- Secure funding through grants or donations.
- Source gardening tools and supplies.
- Organise a garden layout plan.
- Set a date for a community meeting or launch event.
Breaking tasks into such actionable chunks ensures steady progress while maintaining clarity and focus.
Nurturing sustainable habits
Goals are only as strong as the habits that support them. Research from the University of Queensland Business School underscores the importance of building habits through incremental changes. Their studies show that micro-behaviours, when repeated consistently, lead to sustainable long-term habits that align with broader goals.
In our example of the community garden, sustainable habits might include dedicating 15 minutes each morning to researching plant varieties that may be suitable or scheduling regular check-ins with volunteers.
Steps to build sustainable habits:
- Start small: Begin with a simple habit, like watering plants at the same time daily.
- Anchor habits: Link new habits to existing routines. For example, visit the garden site right after your morning walk.
- Track and celebrate: Use simple tools like checklists to monitor progress and reward yourself for consistency.
- Focus on identity: Frame habits as part of who you are, e.g., “I’m a dedicated community gardener.”
- Join a group: Collaborate with local gardening clubs or networks. ARLF alumni can also use our Mighty Networks platform to connect with other leaders for advise and accountability.
- Review regularly: Schedule monthly reviews to reflect on progress and adjust your approach.
Get SMART
SMART goals provide clarity and structure, turning aspirations into actionable plans. Each component ensures that progress is measurable and the goal remains relevant. Here’s what SMART stands for:
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- Specific: Define your goal clearly and in detail.
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- Measurable: Identify metrics to gauge progress.
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- Achievable: Ensure the goal is realistic given your current resources and constraints.
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- Relevant: Align the goal with your broader values and long-term objectives.
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- Time-bound: Set a clear deadline to create urgency and focus.
Example:
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- Vague goal: “Start a community garden.”
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- SMART Goal: “Establish a community garden with 10 raised beds by 30 June 2025, involving 20 volunteers and securing $5,000 in funding.”
At the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation, we’re here to empower you to lead with purpose. Through our programs, we support individuals in rural, regional, and remote Australia to develop the skills and networks needed to achieve their goals and create lasting impact for their communities and industries.
