“Now let’s take a look in the mirror; did you know you have a choice in what kind of leader you are?”
mini breakdown (come on, we’ve all been there…).
them out by which ones you want to tackle first, which goals fall under a larger goal, and which goals can be put on the backburner until these other goals are completed. 9. What are your department’s CURRENT priorities? If everything is important then really nothing is important. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we can’t do it ALL, and our priorities are allowed to shift with our goals on both an individual and organizational level. What do you and your department need to prioritize currently? What can be prioritized at a later time? What doesn’t need to be prioritized at all if not ever? 10. What help do you need? Pride can stop us from getting the help we need to succeed! Where could you use more support? Where are you struggling? How could another person or resource help you to tackle things challenges? Having enough self-awareness to know where you or your program is lacking will only help you access the right help! By working through these 10 questions, you will be laying down a solid foundation for your program to build upon. Once again, you can’t do this all on your own, so make sure to include your team on these questions to ensure buy-in and different perspectives!
Whether your support system is within your own team, your state association, or just colleagues you’ve met over time, maximize these relationships! For being a nation- wide field, it truly is a small world. 7. What boundaries does your department need to succeed? Boundaries are scary to talk about and even harder to uphold, but a lack of boundaries is why so many individuals and organizations struggle to meet their goals! I can confidently say most people in this industry are “yes” people simply because it is in our nature to serve, but identifying our boundaries helps us know when to say no before we find ourselves spiraling from everything we said yes to. 8. What is a “now goal” vs a “down-the- road goal?” Rome wasn’t built in a day! It is so easy to get carried away with creativity and passion that your goals start to seem overwhelming. Make a list of ALL the goals you possibly have for your program (the sky’s the limit!). Once you have your list, sort
Stefanie Giannini, founder of IVATI, is a speaker, educator, and content creator on a mission to inspire and cultivate every individual’s identity and development as a leader; she holds a fierce passion for personal and professional growth, critical reflection, and building quality relationships. Stefanie holds a Bachelor’s in Food & Nutrition Management from Arizona State University and a Master’s in Organizational Leadership and Learning from George Washington University. In addition to her work with IVATI, she works in the school nutrition industry as the Director of Food & Nutrition Services for a K-8 school district in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago. IVATI, Founder; Director of Food & Nutrition Services (IL) Stefanie Giannini, MA, SNS
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