Build in a review process

It’s important that any programme in the life of the church has a review process built into it. It’s important to undertake a regular and realistic assessment of your progress so you can see how you’re doing.

Reviewing your progress means looking to measure your achievements against your goals – what you were hoping to achieve. These assessments should celebrate your successes as well as reveal your weaknesses. Sometimes it’s not comfortable to review your progress, but it’s vital if you want to keep on track and not lose a sense of direction.

Your review process needs to ask fundamental questions such as:

• What have we achieved so far?
• Are we achieving what we hoped to achieve?
• What can we celebrate?
• Are we meeting our deadlines?
• Are we remaining faithful to our original vision?
• Have we got it right so far?
• Is this still the best way of achieving the goals we have set?

You will find it very helpful and rewarding if you keep a photographic record of your progress and engagements at every stage.

In the early reviews, you’ll be able to consider the whole project - but as it develops you might find it necessary to review separate aspects in turn. Eventually you’ll get to the point where review is part of the ethos of the church; when at any one time someone will be reviewing some part of your activity.

You may find it helpful to use the management goal-setting strategy that uses the S.M.A.R.T. principles:

S is for Specific: Each goal ought to describe specifically what you want to achieve; then you can see clearly whether you have realised the desired result.
M for Measurable: You need a way to measure progress with specific criteria to tell you whether the goal is achieved; it has to be very clear whether you have met the objective or not.
A for Achievable: The objectives you set should be achievable; you need to see a realistic path towards your goal. This doesn’t mean that you have to aim low!
R for Rewarding: A goal is rewarding when you have clear reasons why you want to reach that goal. It will help you to get through difficult moments and not give up.
T for Time-based: Your goal needs to have a specific time limit. It will make your objective real and tangible.

Last Updated 03 December 2010