It’s time to get SMART.
SMART goals that is. Goals help us navigate our course into something achievable.
They help guide us as individuals and teams, or as a business to ensure everyone is aligned and aiming for the same mark. Goals help us map out our tasks, objectives – when to keep climbing, when to celebrate, and when to reflect.
As defined by Cambridge Dictionary, a goal is a purpose or something to achieve within a specific period of time. Goals can be short term or long term; they can be simple or complex. No matter the goal that is being set, it is important to set realistic and achievable goals.
I like to equate goals to GPS. You are trying to get from point A to point B. There is more than one way to get there, but generally your GPS will obtain the most efficient or quickest route to your destination.
Miss a turn? You get rerouted.
Run into construction? You take a detour.
Whatever the reason, it's important to make sure the steps you are taking to get to your destination are realistic and achievable. You wouldn't set your destination to New York from Kansas City and hope to get there in an hour. That isn't possible, nor is it realistic.
So where should you start?
Write your goals down and take the time to review them regularly. Use the process of self-reflection. It is easy to write a goal down and never look at it again. Whether it’s a team goal or an individual goal, the review process and using self-reflection will ensure everyone is heading to the same destination.
SMART goals are goals that are **Specific**, **Measurable**, **Achievable**, **Relevant**, and **Time bound**. Coined by George Doran, Arthur Miller, and James Cunningham in the 1981 article, "There's a S.M.A.R.T way to write management goals and objectives." This framework is supposed to help people identify goals for themselves, teams, or an organization to make sure that the goals being set are checking all the boxes to being a SMART goal.
There are, of course, five parts to a SMART goal.
But what makes a goal **specific**? A specific goal will have a clear target or area of improvement. If you aren’t specific on your goals, you won’t know exactly what you are trying to accomplish.
Now with that target in mind, take a second and think about how to **measure** the progress you want to see. How will that target turn into the accomplishment of your goal? For example, is there a certain number of books you want to read? Is there a specific number of pages you need to read every day to achieve that? Set measurable standards to ensure you can keep track of your progress.
You now have a specific target and way to measure. Between those two, do you have the resources you need to **achieve** that goal? That’s an essential question to ask yourself. Without the necessary resources you need to achieve your goal, it will be impossible to complete.
You’re getting close now. After you’re specific on what you want to accomplish, you understand how to measure your progress, and you know you have the resources to achieve your goal...what else do you need? Take a moment to think about your target, your goal, your resources. Are they **relevant**? Reflect on your situation and make sure the goals you are looking to achieve are in line with the bigger picture and vision. Are they realistic? All things to keep in mind.
The last thing to think about is your time frame. A SMART goal needs to have a finish line, it should be **time bound**. Whether that is one week or one year, you will not successfully achieve your target without giving enough runway and putting yourself in position to be successful.
Remember, when you reach your destination to congratulate yourself and celebrate. It’s okay to pat yourself on the back and recognize your accomplishment. Let the serotonin flow and be joyous that you completed something or many small somethings that gathered into a larger pictured. Recognize the milestones within your journey. These are great feats that boost morale and can increase motivation. So, reflect, share, or celebrate your little and big victories.
Be kind to yourself and recognize when you need to be flexible with your goals. Sure, it’s important to be specific and set a time frame, but like everything, you’ll have to ensure they are adaptive as things change. Unexpected opportunities and challenges arise and being able to adjust your goal as these things come up can make it easier for you to track your progress.
Setting goals is crucial for personal growth, team alignment, and organizational success. By following the SMART goal framework, we can ensure that our goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time bound. Whether it's a team goal or an individual goal, making sure that it is a SMART goal is crucial. Reflecting on where you are today, and where you want to be will help everyone to arrive at the same destination.
