GOAL SETTING (PART 1)

Definition

Goal setting is a formal process during which you define targets that you plan to achieve. When you set goals, you commit to outcomes that will be accomplished personally or through your team.

Purposes and benefits

"The person who makes a success of living is the one who sees his goal steadily and aims for it unswervingly. That is dedication."
—Cecil B. Demille

Goal setting creates a long-term vision for your unit and provides the motivation to get you there. It has the additional benefit of helping you decide how you want to focus your resources and spend your time. By setting goals and measuring their achievement you can:

• Focus on what is most important to accomplish on a daily, weekly, and annual basis.
• Provide a unified direction for your team
• Prioritize your workload to focus on critical tasks
• Motivate your team and boost team members' overall job satisfaction.

Types of goals

"Destiny is no matter of chance. It is a matter of choice: it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved."
—William Jennings Bryan

• Unit goals: what your group as a whole will try to accomplish. 
• Individual goals: how each employee will contribute to achieving the unit goals. 

Transformational goals

Personal Insight

There are times when it's appropriate to evolve, but there are times when you need to bring about step change. One device you can use for getting there is to redefine the level of ambition so dramatically that people are almost forced to think from a blank sheet of paper rather than the incremental way that most of us have learned to think about performance.

Goal alignment

Unit and individual goals should emerge from the strategy of the company as a whole.
For example, if your organization's strategy is to become the market share leader through rapid product introductions, your unit and individual goals should serve that strategy.

The following figure illustrates the corresponding levels of aligned goals that flow from top to bottom:

The real power of these cascading goals lies in their alignment with the objectives of the organization. Ideally, every employee would understand his or her goal, how it relates to the unit's goals, and how the unit's activities contribute to the strategic objectives of the company.

Time frame and level of importance

Key Idea

Goals differ in terms of time frame and importance. Short-term goals are achievable within one or two months, and long-term goals are achievable over the course of several months or even years. This topic focuses primarily on long-term goals. In terms of importance, goals generally fall into one of the following categories:

• Critical goals are crucial to your operation. They must be accomplished in order for your unit to continue running successfully.
• Enabling goals create a more desirable business condition or take advantage of a business opportunity. They are important, but accomplish a better business environment over the long term rather than keep your business on track and successful.
• Nice-to-have goals make improvements that enhance your business. They usually relate to making activities faster or easier.

KenyaCAT Stories of Change

Carol Ngila, Alumni CAT

My journey started in 2012 when I completed
high school and was not sure what I wanted to
do in life. With the reference of my youger
brother I decided to join the CATs project. It was
interesting to meet vibrant young people with a
positive attitude towards climate change and
creating impact in the community. I began to
work closely with the members in the Community
Awareness Action Programme and realized I
could do well with advocating for change; and
that‟s when my community development interest
was born.
My parents were amazed when in 2013 I
decided to pursue a course Community Development. This was a great move towards success given that
it took six years to decide on a very important aspect of my life. It has been great since I am able to study
and practice at the same time through an internship I got from CAPSAY. I have developed remarkable
communication and leadership skills. I have worked closely with my community and youths to help them
understand how valuable our environment is and caring for it through waste management and using
briquettes as an alternative fuel in our homes. It has also been quite encouraging to work with fellow CAT
members to impact on government policies mainly on waste management.
I believe the youth can discover their potential when they choose to indulge in positive activities which
can be of great influence towards social change. Involving them in our activities will improve the capacity
of dealing with issues that lead to their destruction like drug abuse, idleness and other social vices, while
sourcing for income. KenyaCAT is a great opportunity for the youths who have passion in achieving their
dreams. Change Begins With You!

Charles Mumbi, Movers Youth Group (Laikipia)

The youth in Kenya are the excluded majority. Many of us are never had prior involvement in climate

change issues. CAPSAY through the CATs project is a unique platform since its involving both in and out

of school youth in Kenya to come up with practical solutions that can help communities to adapt and

mitigate climate change.

It has been great to see the young people, in schools see the curriculum made „come alive‟ through

putting theory into practice, internalizing and owning the message and then taking it up in various ways

even after leaving schools. Ways that are even helping them earn an income from green businesses. All

this is affecting our lives and we as the young people have become real change agents.

Fred Oluendo, Bridge Youth Group, Likoni (Mombasa)

It all started in 2011 when I was a member of the Uwezo Youth Development Programme and took part in

a training in Naivasha. It was so empowering that I still vividly remember the basic concepts I learnt that

have changed my life since then.

I have developed leadership skills that enable me to smoothly run any duties and develop my career. I

have since utilized those skills in both in my teaching career previously at Skyview Academy, St. Kevin

Hill Academy, Our Lady of Mercy Academy and currently as Manager for the Bridge International

Academy in Likoni. I have also led my local Rover Scout Group up to national level for two years.

I manage the largest of the 400 Bridge schools in Kenya where I also founded the Bridge Youth Group to share with other teachers and young people my experiences. This gave birth to a partnership between CAPSAY and Bridge help the teachers become sustainable and empower them on conservation of natural resources.

From the training I got on how to start and run a business. I have always felt that my salary as a teacher has not been enough to sustain me since I have always admired to pursue higher education and create job for others. Early last year I started a business to hire plastic seats at events in my rural home in Siaya from my little savings at a fee of ten shillings per chair per day. One year down the line I have 200 plastic seats that enables me to make Ksh. 4,000 in week. I now plan to expand the business and include more seats, party tents, utensils, public address & music system. I also run a pre-unit graduation gown hiring business in Mombasa. I am also soon to graduate with a Diploma in Early Childhood Education.

I am really grateful to CAPSAY and all the people who have played a role in my life; and encourage the youths to create jobs for themselves rather than wait for employment.

Lynnard Muema, Embu Climate Action Team

For every step in life there is a chance to make change in your life and for the community around you. Having cleared my high school in 2011, I made a choice to love art and learnt bead making and mat making. This helped me earn some money thus becoming partially independent. I joined the Embu Climate Action Team in July 2012 after the group did town cleaning and capacity building activities in Embu. What really enticed me was the coordinated group work that I saw and the passion for environment that they had.

Having been a Scout in high school I learnt that environment affects our thinking. I joined Embu CAT and shared my art experience with the members and we collectively took it up as a business to assist the group to be self reliant. This helped to instill skill and also some members earned from it as it helped bring in some money for the group. I was later elected Event Organizer and we managed to connect with other youth groups in Embu town and its environs. This was made possible by partnership with APHIA PLUS through the Y-Peer Network Programme where I was nominated Mr. Y-Peer, an ambassador for the network.

Later on I joined campus with knowledge of event organizing, managing a green business and wide knowledge on the environment, with training earned from CATs. My life is full of impact to others and I have made a difference in my school and the area where I stay. The Climate Action Teams project has changed my life and I can‟t find words to thank or appreciate. I encourage other young people to always have “The Big Hairy Goal.”

Dennis Mugambi, Embu Climate Action Team

Having finished high school in 2012, I had no place to go or anything to do and then came Julius with the idea of joining the CATs. My aim was to get a place that would keep me busy before I joined campus. As time went on I developed interest in environment and climate change - an area that I have grown so knowledgeable and passionate about. After a while I joined campus where I took a course in Food and Beverage Craft.

On leadership it has become very clear to me that “…an optimistic mindset finds dozens of possible solutions for every problem that the pessimist regards as incurable.” By this it simply means that through CATs I learnt a lot on leadership and realized that no challenge or situation is incurable as long as you‟re always optimistic at what you are doing.

The CATs project has also laid a strong foundation in my life by equipping me with skills and knowledge especially in the agricultural sector and acknowledge why they say that agriculture is the back bone of our country. I have learnt various ways of sustainable farming through our group‟s greenhouse.

I end my story of with a quote “It may be important to great thinkers to examine the world, to explain and despise it, but I think it is only important to love the world, not to despise it, not for us to hate each other, but to be able to regard the world and ourselves as beings with love, admiration and respect”

Samwel Mwangala, Tujivunie Mazingira Yetu Youth Group (Kilifi)

I am the coordinator of Tujivunie Mazingira Yetu Youth Group, a group which was formed after participating in Kazi Kwa Vijana programme where we planted trees along the road in Kilifi Town. My leadership star began shinning when appointed as a captain of Basketball Club and also elected as President of Kilifi County Youth Bunge Network under the Yes Youth Can Programme for two terms.

In June 2013, I attended a training at Shanzu Girl Guides centre which was conducted by CAPSAY. I was enlightened on environmental sustainability approaches, green business, disasters and risk reduction among others. After the training we picked on three projects to undertake as a group: Register a company that will ensure we conduct business professionally and also access tenders, undertake research on sea – weed briquettes in order to discourage the cutting down of trees for charcoal production and also introduce the alternative energy source to our community and enhance food production in order to counter food insecurity.

I share my story because I believe in sharing and it is the only path that opens doors for each one of us. In one way or another I can inspire or mentor another person with my experiences; which include being a fellow in President Obama‟s Young African Leaders Initiative in 2014 partly because of my experience with CAPSAY. “If you're walking down the right path and you're willing to keep walking, eventually you'll make progress, Said Obama.

Ruth Chege, Green Platinum Youth Group (Naivasha)

After high school in 2010 I joined Naivasha Polytechnic Institute for a short course and later went back home because my parents weren‟t be in a position to cater for my education and that of my younger siblings. I therefore had to involve myself in different activities to help me raise the school fees. This led me to Green Platinum Youth Group.

I got encouragement, knowledge and motivation from other members and got more willing to be part of the change and better understand nature and climate change. The training, talks and meeting different people challenged me in a very deeper way, thanks to CAPSAY.

In the duration of my membership I have gained courage in leadership having served as the group accountant. This drove me into taking a course in accounting; where I am now doing level two in Certified Public Accountants course.

I am and proud to be a product of CAPSAY. At my current job with a charitable organization as an ICT Trainee am ever able to resolve different situations with our students all being through the motivation and empowerment from CAPSAY. I have grown into a risk taker through my involvement in challenging activities that have always been thought are for men.

Phoebe Wanjiku, Uwezo Youth Development Programme (Mombasa)

The growth I have experienced since getting involved with CAPSAY through the Climate Action Teams has been far-reaching. It all started with embracing the vision that CAPSAY has and being part of the implementation process.

I have been able to reach great heights and still pursue goals that I have come to see are attainable form hard work. This is one of many values I regard priceless from the capacity building training given by CAPSAY. I have gained mentors, partners and friends that support my endeavors and guide me through them too.

Always forever thankful for the opportunity to engage within the CATs project as one can only appreciate the platform that the organization has set to develop the youth in Kenya into a productive lot of young people who can ensure Kenya‟s future into a sustainably competitive state in the world‟s economy .

Maureen Birir, Gilgil CAT

Climate Action Teams has helped me grow socially by networking with partners I never thought I could meet and establishing strong links. Financially, it has really empowered me since I have been able to register an enterprise and know more about procurement procedures and also earn from the group‟s green businesses. Academically, I have learnt a lot on climate change, green business and good proposal writing. As a result am now planning to pursue a degree course in environment science.

I have been running outreaches on waste management to schools around the community. We have been training youths on briquette making and they have been empowered economically. We have employed a number of youths in the community who are part of the groups green business and are able to earn from the projects. We have carried out events to sensitize the community on how to manage their waste and we have also planted trees in several schools.

Partnership is the key to ensure the growth of KenyaCAT. Sustainability of green businesses in groups will enable continuity of Kenya CAT. At KenyaCAT we are patient when dealing with young people and have learnt to listen to their views as they are the ones implementing the projects. We let ideas come from them so that they can own whatever they are doing.

Susan Wandera, Gilgil CAN

Being in the Climate Action Teams has helped me socially by enabling me to create networks and interact with different kinds of people in the community. It has also been a source of income through my engagement in the group‟s income generating activities. I have also been able to immensely increase my knowledge on climate change.

Through school outreaches and community awareness events that we have undertaken on waste management. There are so many opportunities that are there for the youths to explore on environmental aspects. Its up to us to tap them and benefit ourselves and the community as a whole. My vision is to see every youth empowered economically. This can be achieved by instilling a job-creator attitude among young people.

Nelson Opany, Uwezo Youth Development Programme, Mombasa

In February 2011, I was invited by UNHABITAT to represent the Scouting Movement at a Youth Workshop on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in Mombasa under their Cities and Climate Change Initiative. Through this workshop I got exposed to the realities and threats of climate change and learnt of the various possible actions we can take to adapt to and mitigate against the effect of the changes. This further strengthened my resolve for environmental activism.

Eight months later I met Greig who introduced me to an engagement with the Climate Action programme for Schools and Youth through the Climate Action Teams (CATs) project. I have since worked with CAPSAY in various capacities; including starting the CATs in Mombasa, Kwale and Kilifi, through which I have grown in expertise and experience.

Being in the CATs has given me a launch-pad to various climate change engagements, notable among them being the African Youth Climate Justice Caravan to the COP 17/CMP 7 in Durban in 2011, Global Power Shift Summit in Turkey in 2013, working with the Kenya Youth Climate Network among many others.

Through these interactions I got exposed to a wide range of skills in the areas of policy advocacy, media outreach, non violent direct action, digital campaigning, art and creative activism, climate finance governance, renewable energy and green business. I also took part in developing a youth-led global action plan for climate advocacy that led to a series of campaigns across the globe.

My activities in climate change advocacy and social justice campaigning have not only deepened my understanding but also strengthened my passion for the environment. A passion rooted in the realization that the prosperity of our generation and that of the future generations greatly depends on it. It is something that we all should develop a commitment to preserve at all costs, just as Lord Baden Powell told us to “try to leave this world a little better than you found it.”

Evaline Ong’ore, Inuka Success Youth Group, Katito

I am a 22-year-old semi orphan part time college student specializing in agribusiness at the Great Lakes University Kisumu through the Community Rural College Program. In 2013 I was assigned a project to assist me pay school fees and improve the livelihood of my family. This made me interested in poultry rearing and I began to gather information on the same. I then started building my own poultry unit at home in Gem‟nam, North Nyakach. At the same time I became actively engaged with INUKA Success Youth Group in the Climate Action teams Project; which inspired me more.

The CATs project has taught me that I have what it takes to overcome day to day challenges of life. In our group we run several projects, including operating a savings and credit cooperative society; through which I have learnt so much and gained a lot of experience and received mentorship in very many areas. I now see myself as being able to positively influence the whole community through my work; and am proud of that.

I want to appreciate the Inuka Success, KenyaCATs, CAPSAY and other partners for coming together to provide me with such wonderful information and skills that are now making a really big difference in my life.