It is important to set goals. They keep you motivated and offer direction, but turning goals into reality is always more difficult than creating them.
S.M.A.R.T is a mnemonic device that was created to help people remember the core elements of setting and reaching goals. This method was first coined in 1981 and since then research has proven it to be beneficial in everything from management to student learning and even rehabilitation1,2
S.M.A.R.T goals can be applied to any area of life where goals are present, making this a powerful tool to have both in and out of the workplace.
What Makes Your Goals S.M.A.R.T?
S.M.A.R.T stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.
You may have heard some variations of this since people have altered it to fit their specific goals and needs over the years. You may see relevant replaced with results-based, measurable replaced with motivating, or a variety of other versions.
No matter what words are used to define S.M.A.R.T goals they all work towards the same purpose.
Today we will go over each goal point form the original definition of S.M.A.R.T goals, but feel free to use any variation that suits you best.
S is for Specific
Often goals are not reached because they are vague. With a vaguely described goal, it will feel like your efforts to reach it are unfocused and ineffective, even if they were aimed in the right direction.
It is normal to start with a vague thought of what your goal will be, but the definition of that goal should never end there. The first step is making that goal realistic and obtainable by specifying exactly what it is.
The most specific form of a goal can be obtained by determining four major factors.
– What it is exactly that you want to accomplish.
– Why this goal is important to you.
– Who this goal involves.
– Where this goal will be achieved.
Take the time to deeply consider each factor and write your answers. You will find that the answers you create can be strung into one or two sentences that fully define your goal.
Write that goal down. This will help you keep it clear as you move on to the next point in creating your S.M.A.R.T goal.
Tip: In many situations, resources and limitations should also be considered at this step. They will arise again later on, but considering them early will determine if you need to reset your goal or if there are ways to overcome those limitations.
M is for Measurable
The saying “Measure twice, cut once.” applies well in both woodworking and goal setting.
Just as you don’t want to waste a piece of wood on a poorly measured cut, you also don’t want to waste time on work that is not conducive to your goal.
Being certain of how your success is measured will assure that your goal is being accomplished in a functional manner.
It will also keep you motivated by giving you a sense of accomplishment every time you find that your measurable efforts have brought you closer to your goal.
To find the measurements that are appropriate for your goal consider how you will know when your goal has been accomplished. Then backtrack from the achievement of that goal to your current starting point. When you imagine that process key events will come to mind and events that are similar can be measured by how many of them are required to reach your goal.
For example: If your goal is something along the lines of having a product sold across the U.S.A it could be measured by each state. Each time it is sold in a new state you will know that progress is being made and once it is being sold in all 50 states you will know that your goal has been reached!
A is for Achievable
As your goal is assessed for achievability we revisit the need to understand any limitations. Goals need to be achievable to ensure that all of your efforts are worthwhile.
To assess your goal’s achievability consider how you plan to achieve that goal. If there are any points along that plan that are difficult to answer or define it is okay, goals should stretch your abilities and help you grow. However, if any points are impossible to answer then your goal may not be achievable.
If you find that your goal is not achievable at this point don’t worry. There may be another goal that must be reached before this one can be accomplished, so head back to the top and look for a goal that will get you past any limitations you have found here.
R is for Relevant
Goals often impact more than one thing. If you are goal setting for a company or any group it is important to know that the outcome of your goal will be relevant.
Relevant goals follow a few key points.
– The goal is appropriately timed.
– The goal is being pursued by the correct group/individual.
– The goal aligns with other goals/needs.
– The efforts needed to reach this goal are well worth the outcome.
Depending on your specific situation there may be even more ways to consider a goal’s relevance. No matter how many points you have, be sure to edit your goal if it does not align with them in any way.
T is for Time-Bound
Goals without an expected time of completion can feel like a low priority and take forever to complete.
To assure that your goal turns into an accomplishment time-frames are required.
If you have the desired end date in mind start there. Then backtrack and break up the time from now until that end date into groups. Consider what measurable factors are feasible in a day, a week, a month, and so on. From here you can map out an ideal schedule for accomplishing your goal promptly.
You can also plot it out without a known end date. You will still consider how long the measurable factors for your goal will take, but those estimates of time can be scheduled to find an expected end date.
You can map this out on a calendar to keep you motivated to stay on task and on time.
Tip: S.M.A.R.T goals have been criticized for being too rigid and that can be especially true for time frames. Accidents and setbacks happen, so be sure to budget in a little extra time just in case.
Start Being S.M.A.R.T
By simply reading this you have already taken the first step in obtaining your goals. All of the components of having a S.M.A.R.T goal likely sparked some ideas of what your goal or goals are. Take those ideas, no matter how vague, and try running them through each point of this system.
If this is your first time using S.M.A.R.T goals you may want to start with personal goal setting as it is the least influenced by others. Once that makes sense to you it will be easier to set goals for groups or even companies.
Be sure to consider each point carefully and, if you are comfortable with it, consider sharing your goal with piers who may help you answers and refine specific points within your goal.
Here Is A Free Worksheet On SMART Goals
Citations:
- Rehman, A., Berry, J., & Siddiqui, M. (2014). Poststroke rehabilitation based on SMART goals: A case study. J Exp Integr Med. doi:https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Muhammad_Siddiqui4/publication/259592454_Post_stroke_rehabilitation_based_on_SMART_goals_A_case_study/links/00b4952ce812216fbd000000/Post-stroke-rehabilitation-based-on-SMART-goals-A-case-study.pdf
- Robins, E. (2014). An Instructional Approach to Writing SMART Goals 04_14_2014.pdf. Retrieved October 08, 2020, from https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/bitstream/10125/32940/Final_TCC_EMRobins_04_14_2014.pdf