How High to Set the BAR?
“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” Michael Jordan
My assembly address to the boys each week is focused on one of our School values. Most recently I spoke about ‘Excellence - We strive for our personal best’.
I showed the boys a video of Michael Jordan playing basketball. Instead of one of the most famous basketball players of all time sinking baskets, Jordan kept missing. And yet, I identified that he would have utilised personal goals during practice sessions to strive for improvement and his best.
“Setting goals is linked with higher motivation, self-esteem, self-confidence, and autonomy” (Locke and Lathan, 2006).
“Research has established a strong connection between goal-setting and success.” (Matthews, 2015)
Using an image of an archery target with all the arrows missing their mark, I illustrated that ‘If you aim at nothing you will hit nothing every time’.
Using the example of Mosman Prep’s Vice-Captain from last year (who was ecstatic to jump his personal best height and come 3rd at the State Championships), I reinforced the importance of setting the bar (your goal) at a level which will challenge you. Educators sometimes refer to the ‘Goldilocks Principle’ - humans experience peak motivation when working on tasks that are right on the edge of their current abilities. Goals that are too easy can lead to apathy, too hard resulting in disillusionment.
How to Support My Son?
While our teachers will support the boys at school in setting their goals, if you are wishing to assist at home with additional goals (perhaps with music practice, reading or sport), a popular goal-setting framework used as a psychological tool for increasing productivity involves seven rules or criteria, known as the “S-M-A-R-T-E-R rule”.
S - Specific
M - Measurable
A - Achievable
R - Relevant
T - Time-bound
E - Evaluated
R - Rewarded
While growing student independence and ownership of their learning is a progressive exercise (and one that needs to be carefully guided and supported by teachers and parents), research is clear on the long-term positive impact of students assuming greater responsibility themselves.
Encouraging students to be partners in their own learning increases agency (ownership and responsibility) and achievement. It creates positive long-term learning habits. It also builds student engagement with schooling, which is associated with positive outcomes in most facets of life. Gonski Report 2018
Goal setting is a powerful way of developing ownership and experiencing greater and more consistent achievement.
“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.” Ecclesiastes 9:10a
Peter Grimes | Headmaster
Reference:
The Science and Psychology of Goal Setting – PositivePschology.com – 2021
Goal Setting Is Linked to Higher Achievement - Five research-based ways to help children and teens attain their goals – Psychology Today - 2018
