How to Encourage Girls to Set and Achieve Goals This School Year

As the new school year begins, it's a great time to help girls set meaningful goals that can guide them through their academic journey and beyond. Goal-setting is more than just a motivational exercise; it's a powerful tool that can empower girls to take control of their lives, build confidence, and develop a sense of purpose. Whether you're an educator, mentor, or coach, here’s how you can encourage girls to set and achieve their goals this school year.

Why Goal-Setting Is Important for Girls

For girls, especially in their formative years, goal-setting plays a crucial role in their personal development. It helps them:

• Develop a sense of direction: Setting goals gives girls a roadmap to follow, helping them focus their efforts on what truly matters.
• Build confidence: Achieving goals, no matter how small, can boost a girl’s self-esteem and reinforce the belief that she can accomplish anything she sets her mind to.
• Foster resilience: When girls set goals, they learn to navigate challenges and setbacks, building resilience along the way.
• Cultivate a growth mindset: Goal-setting encourages girls to see challenges as opportunities to grow, rather than as obstacles to be feared.

Steps to Help Girls Set and Achieve Goals

1. Start with Self-Reflection

Before diving into goal-setting, encourage girls to take some time for self-reflection. This process helps them understand their strengths, interests, and areas where they want to improve. Here are some questions to guide their reflection:

• What are my strengths and passions?
• What are some areas I’d like to improve or learn more about?
• What makes me feel proud of myself?
• What challenges have I faced, and how did I overcome them?

By answering these questions, girls can identify what truly matters to them, making their goals more meaningful and personal.

2. Teach the SMART Goal Framework

The SMART goal framework is a simple yet effective way to guide girls in setting clear, achievable goals. SMART stands for:

• Specific: Goals should be clear and specific. Instead of saying, “I want to do better in school,” a more specific goal would be, “I want to improve my math grade by studying for 30 minutes each day.”
• Measurable: Goals should have criteria that allow girls to track their progress. For example, “I want to read 10 books this semester” is measurable.
• Achievable: Goals should be realistic and attainable. While it’s great to aim high, it’s important that the goal is within reach given the girl’s resources and time.
• Relevant: Goals should align with the girl’s values and long-term objectives. If she’s passionate about science, setting a goal to participate in a science fair is relevant.
• Time-bound: Goals should have a deadline or time frame. For instance, “I want to complete my art project by the end of October.”

Teaching girls to use the SMART framework helps them create well-defined goals that they’re more likely to achieve.

3. Break Goals into Manageable Steps

Large goals can sometimes feel overwhelming, so it’s important to break them down into smaller, more manageable steps. Help girls map out the steps needed to reach their goals. For example, if a girl’s goal is to improve her math grade, the steps might include:

• Attending extra help sessions after school once a week.
• Completing all homework assignments on time.
• Practicing additional problems at home.
• Reviewing notes for 15 minutes each night.

By breaking down goals into smaller tasks, girls can focus on one step at a time, making the overall goal feel more achievable.

4. Encourage Regular Check-Ins and Adjustments

Goal-setting isn’t a one-time event; it’s an ongoing process that requires regular check-ins and adjustments. Encourage girls to periodically review their progress:

• Are they on track to meet their goal?
• What challenges have they encountered?
• Do they need to adjust their approach or timeline?

Regular check-ins help girls stay accountable and motivated, while also allowing them to make necessary changes if their goals or circumstances change.

5. Celebrate Achievements, Big and Small

Celebrating achievements, no matter how small, is crucial for maintaining motivation and building confidence. When a girl reaches a milestone or achieves a goal, take the time to acknowledge her hard work and perseverance. Celebrations can be as simple as a verbal acknowledgment, a high-five, or a small reward like a sticker or a journal.

Celebrating successes reinforces the idea that hard work and determination pay off, and it encourages girls to keep setting and pursuing new goals.

6. Model Goal-Setting Behavior

As an educator, mentor, or coach, you’re a role model for the girls in your life. Demonstrate the importance of goal-setting by sharing your own goals and the steps you’re taking to achieve them. When girls see you setting, working towards, and achieving your goals, they’re more likely to be inspired to do the same.

Goal-Setting Activities for the Classroom or Group

Here are a few activities you can use to help girls set and achieve their goals:

• Vision Boards: Have girls create vision boards filled with images and words that represent their goals. Vision boards are a visual reminder of what they’re working towards and can be a fun, creative way to inspire goal-setting.
• Goal-Setting Journals: Provide girls with journals where they can write down their goals, track their progress, and reflect on their journey. This can be a personal and meaningful way to keep their goals top of mind.
• Group Goal-Setting Sessions: Host a group session where girls can share their goals with each other and discuss strategies for achieving them. Peer support can be incredibly motivating and can foster a sense of community and accountability.

Final Thoughts

Encouraging girls to set and achieve goals is one of the most empowering things you can do as an educator, mentor, or coach. By helping girls develop goal-setting skills, you’re not only supporting their academic success but also equipping them with tools that will serve them throughout their lives.

Remember, the process is just as important as the outcome. Encourage girls to embrace the journey of goal-setting, celebrate their progress, and learn from any setbacks along the way. With your guidance and support, they’ll enter this school year ready to dream big and achieve even bigger.

⭐️ Ready to start making an impact and income empowering girls as a coach and mentor? Check out our Girls Empowerment Leader Certification and get access to in depth training, marketing materials, done for you workshops, school summits and a 4 part mom/daughter workshop series you can start running in your community (and beyond!) right away! And, you won't believe the bonuses...

---

And don't forget to grab your FREE Girl World 101 Workshop Kit! ⤵