DECISION-MAKING
AND GOAL-SETTING
OBJECTIVES
Students will be able to list in sequential
order the 6 steps involved in the decision-
making process
Students will be able to apply the steps in a
dilemma situation
Students will be able to describe the
criteria of a SMART goal
Students will be able to write a goal and set
up an action plan for achieving their goal
AGENDA
Luck-of-the-Draw
Lecture/ppt introduction to decision-
making
Partner work on decision-making
Lecture/ppt on goals
Partner work on Goals
Wrap-up
STEPS TO DECISION-
MAKING
I. STATE THE SITUATION (DEFINE
THE PROBLEM)
II. LIST ALL POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
OR CHOICES:
A.__________B._________C.__________
__
(CONT)
III. CONSIDER ALL POSSIBLE
OUTCOMES, GOOD AND BAD. LIST AS
“PROS” AND “CONS” IN EACH
COLUMN
(cont)
IV. CONSIDER YOUR VALUES AND
UNDERLINE THE MOST IMPORTANT ONES
LISTED UNDER EACH CHOICE.
You may also want to ask yourself the
following questions about each choice:
Does it protect or promote Health and safety?
Is it Ethical (demonstrate good character)?
Is it Legal?
Would my Parents or other responsible adults
approve?
(cont)
V. MAKE A DECISION BASED ON ALL OF
THE ABOVE AS TO WHICH DECISION IS THE
MOST RESPONSIBLE, AND ACT ON IT.
VI. EVALUATE YOUR DECISION. Later, look
back and reflect on the actual outcomes.
What was the outcome?
How did you feel about your decision?
Would you make the same choice again next
time?
What did you learn?
Did your decision effect others?
Common Decisions:
What to wear to school
What to eat for lunch
Which homework to do first
What to do on the weekends
What to do during study hall
What movie to see
More Serious Decisions
- What classes you want to take in high school
- Who you want to date
- If you will experiment with drugs/alcohol
- What career path you want to take
Let’s Give it a Try!
Using the handout:
Fill out all the sections of the decision-
making process with a potential real-life
situation you or a friend might encounter
and need to go through the steps
(10 minutes)
Skill: Goal Setting
What is goal setting?
Working toward something you want to
accomplish
Why set goals?
To help identify what you want from life
Help you use your time and energy wisely
Goals in one area will help you with goals in
another
To feel a sense of accomplishment
Buzz Words
SMART
Plan
Barriers
Progress
Evaluate
GOAL SETTING
LONG-TERM GOALS
Reached over weeks, months, or years
SHORT-TERM GOALS
Reached in short period of time (days or
weeks)
Create stepping stones to long-term goal
(“milestones on a journey”)
Provide a way of measuring and achieving
success
Steps to Reaching Goals
1) Set your SMART goal.
2) What’s your plan?
3) What are your barriers?
4) Create solutions to the barriers.
5) How will you reward yourself?
6) How are you progressing?
Everyday Goals:
Getting homework done early
Winning a game/competition
Going to the gym/exercise
Household chores
Bigger Goals
Raising your average
Graduating
Going to college
Making a high school team
Successful career
Having a family
Health Goals!
Going to the gym
Weight loss/diets
Remain abstinent from sexual activity
Remain drug free
Time management
SETTING GOALS
STEP I: DECIDE ON A GOAL AND
WRITE IT DOWN
(The goal should be SPECIFIC, MEASURABLE,
and ACHIEVABLE within a TIME FRAME)
Example:
At the end of 8 weeks, I will be able to
run 3 miles without stopping or walking
Remember SMART!
Goals Should Be:
Specific: who, what, where, when?
Measurable: how much, how many?
Attainable: Do you have the skills to reach
it?
Realistic: is it something you are actually
capable of
doing?
Timely: when will you be able to reach this
goal by?
No-no words for goals
More
Less
Many
Better
worse
Good
Fewer
Most
Least
SETTING GOALS (Cont)
STEP 2: LIST THE STEPS YOU WILL
TAKE TO REACH YOUR GOAL (These
need to be SPECIFIC)
Example:
A. I will begin by running/walking 1 mile,
working up to 3 miles of running and walking
B. First, I will increase the number of miles I
go, then I will concentrate on walking less
and running more
Setting Goals (cont)
Step 3: IDENTIFY SOURCES OF HELP
AND SUPPORT
Example: I have a friend who agreed to
exercise with me.
Setting Goals (cont)
Step 4: SET A SPECIFIC TIME PERIOD
TO MEET YOUR GOALS
Example: I will work toward my goal
over the next 8 weeks
Setting Goals (cont)
Step 5: SET UP CHECKPOINTS TO SEE
HOW WELL YOU’RE DOING
Example: Checkpoints:
2 weeks: run/walk 2 miles
4 weeks: run/walk 3 miles
6 weeks: run 2 miles/run:walk 1 miles
8 weeks: run 3 miles without walking or
stopping
Setting Goals (cont)
Step 6: REWARD YOURSELF AFTER
YOU HAVE ACHIEVED YOUR
GOAL
Example: If I achieve my goal, I will buy
some new sneakers.
(Many times, reaching the goal is reward
enough in and of itself)
REVIEW: ACTION PLAN
STEP 1: DECIDE ON A GOAL & WRITE IT
DOWN
STEP 2: LIST THE STEPS YOU WILL TAKE TO
REACH YOUR GOAL
STEP 3: IDENTIFY SOURCES OF HELP AND
SUPPORT
STEP 4: SET A SPECIFIC TIME PERIOD TO
REACH YOUR GOAL
STEP 5: SET UP CHECKPOINTS TO SEE HOW
WELL YOU’RE DOING
STEP 6: REWARD YOURSELF!
Let’s Practice!
With a partner:
Each of you write one goal for yourself
but help each other so the goal will meet
the criteria of a SMART goal:
Specific
Measurable
Achievable, action-oriented
Relevant
Time
