Research Conversations: Vertically-Aligned Goal Setting
Author: Leader in Me
November 19, 2024
Summary
With 80% of districts falling short of their learning and outcome objectives, we must shift how we do things. Vertically-aligned goal setting supports systemic synergy and improves educational outcomes since all stakeholders are working toward the same goals.
Key Point 1
To achieve the most important district goals, stakeholders at all levels of the organization need to set goals that align with the district goals. This coordinated effort ensures all momentum is aimed at the most important 2-3 goals of the district. Engaging stakeholders at each level of the organization in the process of aligning their team and individual goals up to the district goal is a critical component of systemic synergy and gives everyone a voice in the process.
Key Point 2
Vertically-aligned goal setting leads to shared ownership and collective efficacy, empowering all members of the organization. When the tone is set from the top, that everyone is working together toward a few important goals, and when synergy becomes the “way we do things”, then everyone feels a sense of personal responsibility.
Action Steps
For a synergistic approach to vertically-aligned goal setting:
- District leaders create a 1-pager to provide a transparent outline of how data informed the goal. This allows EVERY stakeholder to understand the need for the goal.
- District leaders complete the first column of the Alignment Tool.
- District leaders share the 1-pager and Alignment Tool and invite school leadership teams to create a bottom-up goal to support the district goal.
- School leaders create a 1-pager to provide a transparent outline of how data informed the school goal, and put it on the back of the district’s 1-pager. This provides a clear explanation for all other stakeholders.
- School leaders share the 2-pager and Alignment Tool (district/school goals back-to-back) and invite department and grade level teams to create a bottom-up goal to support the school goal (and, ultimately, the district goal).
- Teachers create a bottom-up classroom goal to support the department or grade level goal (and, ultimately, the school and district goals).
- Individual teachers create a bottom-up goal to support the classroom goal (and, ultimately, the department or grade level, the school, and district goals).Teachers invite students to create a bottom-up goal, unique to their own learning needs, to support the classroom goal (and, ultimately, the department or grade level, the school, and district goals).
Citations
- Fullan, M., & Quinn, J. (2015). Coherence: The right drivers in action for schools, districts, and systems. Corwin Press.
