The first task in initiating is defining the goal. If we can define the goal, then our direction is clear.
In defining the goal, we need to establish all of the ingredients necessary to achieve the goal. We accomplish this by defining the “5WH information” about the goal and by defining a standard to measure the basic question of direction: “How will we know when we have reached our goal?”
DEFINING GOALS
We need to determine all of the ingredients of our goals. It is important to include all of the people and things that may impinge upon the helpee’s achievement of the goals. We need to determine, “Who and what is involved?”
We need to define all of the activities involved. “What will be done?” That way no critical activity is omitted in our attempts to achieve our goals.
It is also important to describe the reasons for accomplishing the goals and the methods to accomplish them. “Why and how will the goals be accomplished?”
We also need to describe when and where the activity will occur. It is important to be specific to insure that the helpee knows when and where the new behavior will take place.
DEFINE 5WH OF BEHAVIOR
In order to determine when the helpee has reached the goal, we will need to define observable and measurable standards. Defining standards usually means describing the goal in terms of the number of times or amount of time the helpee is engaged in some behavior. We can define the standard by answering the question: “How well will it be done?”
DEFINE STANDARDS
We must now communicate our definition of the goal to the helpee. We do this by emphasizing the behavior and the standards of performance.
We may use the format:
“You want to ________ (5WH of behavior)
as indicated by ________ (standards).”
COMMUNICATING THE OPERATIONAL GOAL