Vision, Values & Goal Setting


Introduction

Leadership without direction is like sailing without a compass. To inspire others and create meaningful change, leaders must know where they are going, why they are going there, and how to bring others along.
This is where vision, values, and goal setting become the cornerstone of effective leadership.

For young people aged 18–35 who are stepping into leadership, especially those leading the financial literacy movement in schools through KAFI Hub, this module provides the foundation for purpose-driven leadership.
You are not only building your own future but also shaping the financial habits of the next generation.
This responsibility requires clarity of vision, strong values, and achievable goals.

In this module, we will explore:

  1. Crafting a personal and team vision
  2. Aligning leadership with values
  3. Setting SMART goals

Each section will provide practical strategies, real-life examples, and exercises to help you apply these concepts to your personal journey and your role in schools and communities.

1. Crafting a Personal and Team Vision

What is Vision?

A vision is a mental picture of the future you want to create. It is the “big picture” that guides your actions today.
For leaders, vision is both personal (where you see yourself going) and collective (where you are leading others).

Think of great leaders throughout history Martin Luther King Jr. with his “I have a dream,” or Nelson Mandela envisioning a free and equal South Africa. Their vision gave them resilience, attracted followers, and sustained them through challenges.

As a young leader in the financial literacy movement, your vision might be:

  • To see every child in your community grow up financially literate.
  • To help young people escape poverty through smart financial decisions.
  • To build a career where you empower others while creating financial independence for yourself.

Why Vision Matters for Young Leaders

  • Direction: Vision gives you clarity on where you’re heading.
  • Motivation: It fuels persistence when obstacles arise.
  • Inspiration: A compelling vision attracts others to join your cause.
  • Identity: It defines who you are and what you stand for.

Crafting Your Personal Vision

Here’s a step-by-step exercise to create your own leadership vision:

  1. Imagine the future: Picture yourself in 10–15 years. What impact do you want to have made?
  2. Identify passions: What excites you? Is it education, youth empowerment, or financial justice?
  3. Define success: What does success mean to you: wealth, influence, freedom, or transformation?
  4. Write a vision statement: Keep it short, clear, and inspiring.

Example:

“My vision is to empower young people globally to achieve financial independence and build stronger communities through financial literacy.”

Creating a Team Vision

As a leader in KAFI Clubs, your role goes beyond personal ambition, you must inspire others. A team vision ensures everyone is aligned and motivated.

Steps to build a shared vision with your school or community team:

  • Engage the group: Ask members what kind of future they want to see.
  • Find common ground: Identify shared aspirations (e.g., “We want students to understand money better than we did.”).
  • Write it together: Create a simple statement like:

    “Our vision is to raise a generation of students who are financially smart, independent, and capable of building better futures.”

Practical Exercise:
Write your personal vision in one sentence. Then, if you are working with a school group, co-create a collective vision statement. Share it publicly so it becomes a commitment.

2. Aligning Leadership with Values

What are Values?

Values are the principles and beliefs that guide your behavior. They are your inner compass.
While vision tells you where you are going, values dictate how you get there.

For example:

  • A leader who values honesty will not cut corners, even if it’s easier.
  • A leader who values service will put people before personal gain.
  • A leader who values excellence will always push for the best results.

Why Values Matter for Young Leaders

  • Integrity: Values ensure you lead with consistency and trust.
  • Resilience: In tough times, values anchor your decisions.
  • Inspiration: People follow leaders who live by their values, not just their words.

For leaders in financial literacy, values are especially critical. You are teaching young people about money, an area where trust can easily be broken. Leading with strong values ensures credibility.

Identifying Your Core Values

To align your leadership with values, first discover your own:

  1. Reflect: Think about moments when you felt proud of your actions. What values were you living out?
  2. Choose 3–5 core values: Examples include honesty, service, justice, growth, excellence, or responsibility.
  3. Define them in your context: What does “honesty” mean for you as a financial literacy leader? Maybe it means transparency in handling money for projects.

Living Your Values

  • Consistency: Don’t just preach financial responsibility, practice it. Show students how you budget and save.
  • Decision-making: Use values as a filter. Ask: Does this decision reflect my core values?
  • Role-modeling: Students and peers will watch what you do more than what you say.

Practical Exercise:
Write down your top 5 values. Rank them in order of importance. Reflect on how you can demonstrate them in your leadership role.

3. Setting SMART Goals

Why Goals Matter

Vision provides direction, values guide behavior, but goals break down the journey into achievable steps. Without goals, vision remains a dream.

Goals help you:

  • Stay focused and productive.
  • Measure progress.
  • Celebrate small wins on the path to big impact.

For young leaders, goals are the bridge between where you are now and where you want to be.

The SMART Goal Framework

Effective goals are SMART:

  • Specific – Clear and detailed.
  • Measurable – Quantifiable to track progress.
  • Achievable – Realistic and within your capacity.
  • Relevant – Connected to your vision and values.
  • Time-bound – Have a clear deadline.

Example in the financial literacy context:

Vague Goal: “I want to teach students about money.”
SMART Goal: “I will conduct 5 financial literacy sessions in my local school within the next 3 months, reaching at least 100 students.”

Types of Goals for Young Leaders

  1. Personal goals: Building your own skills (e.g., learning public speaking).
  2. Professional goals: Career-related targets (e.g., becoming a certified financial educator).
  3. Community goals: Impact-driven objectives (e.g., launching 10 KAFI Clubs in schools over the next year).

Overcoming Goal-Setting Challenges

  • Procrastination: Break big goals into smaller milestones.
  • Fear of failure: See failure as learning, not defeat.
  • Lack of resources: Start small, use what you have, and grow gradually.

Practical Exercise:
Write down 3 SMART goals: one personal, one professional, and one community goal related to financial literacy leadership.
Share them with a mentor or accountability partner.

Case Study: A Young Leader in Action

A 22-year-old in Kenya joined KAFI Hub with the vision of helping rural youth understand savings. She identified her values as honesty, service, and resilience. Using SMART goals, she set out to launch 3 KAFI Clubs in local schools within 6 months.
By aligning her leadership with her vision and values, she not only started the clubs but also became a mentor for younger leaders.

Her journey shows how vision, values, and goals transform leadership from theory into real impact.

Conclusion

Vision, values, and goals form the core pillars of leadership development:

  • Vision paints the future.
  • Values guide behavior.
  • Goals provide the steps to get there.

As young leaders aged 18–35 starting your careers and leading financial literacy in schools, this module equips you with clarity, integrity, and action.
With a compelling vision, strong values, and SMART goals, you can inspire peers, transform schools, and shape communities for generations to come.

Remember: Leadership is not about position, it’s about influence. And influence begins with vision, values, and goals.

Reflection Questions for Learners

  1. What is your personal vision as a leader in financial literacy?
  2. Which 3–5 values do you want to embody as a leader?
  3. Write down 3 SMART goals that align with your vision and values.

Kindly share a summary of what you have learnt in the comment below in this format:

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