Setting Goals & How They'll Be Measured
Part 2: Community Strategy Planning for 2023
**UPDATE, added 11/7/22**: Scroll all the way down for a link to EVERY one of the recap articles in this series.
The Community Planning Sessions continued earlier today with special guest Todd Nilson of Clocktower Advisors! Todd shared some critical information about how to address goal-setting and measurement in your strategic planning.
Scroll below for a recap of our four main tips/takeaways.
You’ve completed the pre-planning tips from last week’s session, and now you’re ready to tackle next year’s strategic plan! Here are the main takeaways we discussed today around setting goals and how they’ll be measured:
Start with ASSESSMENT.
What went well? What could have gone better? What surprised you? What did you vow must change next time? What can be eliminated and still drive value? Did your stakeholders find value in what you reported? Todd said that he uses the visual of a quadrant with four symbols: smiley face (for what worked), frown face (for what didn’t work), exclamation point (for what surprised you), and an arrow (for what needs to be changed).
Understand the definition and delineation between Community Health and Community Measurement.
The definition of Community Measurement is the clickstream stuff such as daily active users, time on page, page views, # of searches… all of which show that the community is being used enough that you’d consider it healthy. Community Health has to do with the value your community is creating. What outcomes are happening for members and for the organization?
Focus on no more than 3 goals and (ideally) 3 supporting metrics for each.
Think of each goal like a project, and if you’re setting up three goals, then you’re setting up at least three projects for the year. Also, choose the supporting metrics that will help you to prove each goal. There might be three of them. There might be more. Try not to select too many metrics or else you’ll be spending too much time measuring and not painting the full picture of what the data is telling you. As Todd said, “Determine between what’s nice-to-know and what’s need-to-know.”
Re-examine the formats for your reports.
This is a good time to review HOW you’re sharing your information and in what form that is. Is the format effective and efficient? Is it too long or too short? Does it ready clearly and concisely?
Want more resources on goal-setting and measurement? These were mentioned and recommended:
Introduction to Data Analytics Course (3 hours) - Create a free account in order to access the course.
Share Data Through The Art of Visualization (24 hours) - Create an account and you’ll get 7 days (free) to complete the course.
We’ve got part 3 coming up on Monday, 10/17 with Ashleigh Brookshaw of C2M Digital, LLC, plus 2 more sessions after that. Mark your calendars for 11-11:30am Pacific every Monday in October!
**Heads up: LinkedIn does NOT provide a recording of audio events, so make sure you don’t miss this conversation!**
Need hands-on help with your community strategy for 2023?
Let’s chat! Contact me.
More Upcoming Events
10/12, Community (re)Focus, hosted by Grazitti Interactive. A free virtual event!
10/19, The CoLab: A Half-Day of Strategic Planning & Collaboration, hosted by The Community Club. Another free virtual event!
Series Recaps
Session #1 Recap: The Planning Before The Planning, with Steph Bennett
Session #3 Recap: How to Plan for Programming, with Ashleigh Brookshaw
Session #4 Recap: Understanding Roadmapping in the Planning Process, with Tiffany Oda
Session #5 Recap: The Strategic Plan & Roadmap are Done! Now What? With Ilker Akansel