Set goals or objectives

Understanding the situation and knowing what your limits are should now enable you to set some wise goals or objectives.

The general characteristics of a well-designed set of goals or objectives are:

- It describes the result, not the activity
- It is realistic and attainable
- It is specific. Anyone who reads or hears it will understand concretely what that situation looks like. 'Countering radicalisation' or 'eradicating Islamophobia' are not specific. People could have quite different interpretations of those phrases.
- It is consistent with other directions you want to go in, not in conflict with them.
- It fits your vision, mission, values, ethos
- Where possible it is measurable – or at least you can tell if the situation is improving or making progress
- Where possible it has a timeframe – if not a deadline, at least some milestones set against dates

Bear in mind some of the general features of success that apply to your particular context, for example:

- It focuses on areas of effective concentration: social interaction, extracurricular activity, or improving the understanding of Islam
- It contributes to a positive atmosphere, it builds supportive networks, it maintains good relationships
- It encourages thinking brains rather than generating adverse emotion
- It meets people's genuine needs