How can program coordinators use goal-setting to build resilience?

1 What is resilience?

Resilience is the ability to adapt and recover from difficulties, challenges, or changes in your work environment. It is not about avoiding stress or being immune to it, but rather about finding positive ways to deal with it and learn from it. Resilience can help you maintain your well-being, motivation, and productivity in the face of adversity.

2 Why is resilience important?

Resilience is important for program coordinators because it can help you cope with the demands and uncertainties of your role. Program coordination often involves managing multiple tasks, stakeholders, and deadlines, which can create stress and pressure. Resilience can help you overcome obstacles, solve problems, and achieve your goals. It can also help you foster a positive and supportive work culture, where you and your team can collaborate effectively and creatively.

3 How can goal-setting help you build resilience?

Goal-setting is the process of defining and pursuing specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound objectives. Goal-setting can help you build resilience by providing you with a clear direction, a sense of purpose, and a way to measure your progress and success. Goal-setting can also help you develop a growth mindset, where you view challenges as opportunities to learn and improve, rather than as threats or failures.

4 How to set SMART goals for resilience?

To set SMART goals for resilience, you need to consider both your desired outcomes and the behaviors that will help you reach them. Outcomes could be completing a project, improving a skill, or increasing your satisfaction. Behaviors include prioritizing tasks, communicating effectively, or seeking feedback. As an example, if you want to deliver a high-quality program report by the end of the month, allocate two hours every day to work on it, review your progress weekly, and ask for input from supervisors and colleagues. Or if you want to enhance your presentation skills by the end of the quarter, enroll in an online course on presentation skills, practice at least one presentation per week, and solicit feedback from peers and mentors.

5 How to monitor and adjust your goals for resilience?

To monitor and adjust your goals for resilience, tracking performance and reflecting on feedback are essential. Performance is the evidence of progress and achievement, such as metrics, deliverables, or outcomes. Feedback is the information you receive from yourself or others about your performance, such as comments, ratings, or suggestions. To do this effectively, use tools and methods that can help you measure and document your performance, like dashboards, checklists, or portfolios. Additionally, seek feedback from multiple sources and perspectives to identify strengths and areas for improvement. Based on your performance and feedback, adjust your goals and behaviors accordingly. Celebrate achievements and recognize efforts while learning from mistakes and challenges to overcome them in the future.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?