Leadership in Athletics: Setting Goals

In the final part of my series, I will discuss how setting attainable goals translates into faith and confidence in leadership.

Goal setting is the process of deciding what you want to accomplish and devising a plan to achieve the result you desire. Leaders exude confidence along with the ability to visualize different scenarios and options that dictate goals. The importance of setting attainable goals coincides with the potential success of your business or team.

As a collegiate student-athlete, I implemented daily, weekly and monthly attainable goals to ensure I challenged myself academically and athletically. My goals were aligned to achieve success within the infrastructure of my college education and football career. The end result: 3.7 GPA on the Dean’s List, voted team’s Most Outstanding Lineman, led the team in sacks and drafted in the NFL.

Being able to achieve my personal and team goals was a great illustration of the essential life skills mandated to be successful. Great leaders have a plan — not only for the day, but for the week, a month, a year and 10 years from now.

Be knowledgeable about anticipation and planning. Anticipate every situation that could arise; plan for every situation that could potentially happen. Don't think in terms of every second by second on what needs to be done; just think in advance.

In conclusion, understand the importance of creating a plan and making the commitment to dedicate yourself to your goals. By creating habits through disciplines, have faith and follow the plan. You will be elated on how successful you can be. Once you’ve completed your goals and accomplishments, the process will give you the confidence to challenge yourself to not just be good, but becoming great!  Most people don't plan; that translates into planning to fail! That's why it is easy to outwork most folks. I always had big dreams as a young man.  I understood that dreams without goals will amount to disappointment and failure. I attribute my success on mastering teamwork, commitment, discipline and setting attainable goals.

This process worked for me, and I’m honored to share this crucial information with you. Always have faith in yourself!