SMART goal setting will totally disrupt the vicious cycle of setting goals and then not achieving them.
Have you ever felt like you’ve been working towards a goal FOREVER, but realize that you’re not getting anywhere? Reflect on the past four or five years. Is there a pile of new year’s resolutions, morning routines and best intentions that have fallen by the wayside?
You’re not alone. One statistic says that up to 92% of people don’t achieve their goals. And that’s out of people who take the time to set a goal!
Other people are constantly rushing to complete more tasks while in reality accomplishing very little because they lack clarity and direction. They either aren’t setting goals at all, or they’re going about goal setting in the wrong way.
Think about your dreams and ambitions for the next few years – are you ready to actually achieve your goals and get shit done? If so – it’s time to try something new.
This is where SMART goal setting comes in. Setting SMART goals will help you make your ideas clear, focus your efforts, and make use of your time productively so you can maximize the chances of achieving what you desire in life and get that important shit done.
So what are SMART goals, and how can you use this framework to set and achieve your goals?
What are SMART goals?
A goal is an objective that you set for yourself and motivate yourself to achieve. It can be a small thing like waking up earlier than you usually do. Or it can be much bigger, like getting that promotion. But here’s the thing! While goals can be used as an inspiration to push yourself more, they can often lead to disappointment and frustration if you don’t achieve them in the end.
When it comes to achieving success, one of the most important steps that you need to take is setting good goals. And good goals are SMART.
‘S.M.A.R.T.’ is an acronym which you can use as a guide for setting your goals. Let’s break it down, letter by letter.
What makes a goal a SMART goal?
The goal must be:
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Relevant
Time Bound
How to set SMART goals:
1. Specific
First of all, your goal should be specific and clear. Otherwise, you will not be able to focus your efforts, or you may feel less motivated to achieve it. While you are drafting your goal, try to answer these five questions:
- What is the thing that I want to achieve?
- How important is this goal to me?
- Who is going to be involved?
- What are the resources or limitations involved?
SMART goal example: Let’s say you are a marketing executive right now, and you dream of becoming the head of the marketing department. Your specific goal might be, “I will gain the skills and experience that is required to become the head of the marketing department within my organization. In this way, I can build my career and be the leader of a successful team.”
2. Measurable
It is important that you have measurable goals so you can track your progress. And once you start seeing some progress, you’ll be able to keep yourself motivated.
So break your goal down into measurable elements, assess your progress and make sure this will help you stay focused, and feel the enthusiasm of meeting your deadlines and of getting closer to accomplishing your goal.
You can use these questions to make sure you have a measurable goal:
• How much?
• How long?
• How many?
• How will I know that I’ve accomplished my goal?
SMART goal example: It’s possible to measure your goal of gaining the skills required to become the head of the marketing department by determining whether you can complete the five essential training courses and gain the necessary experience of managing three large accounts within three years’ time.
3. Achievable
Is your goal attainable? Because it has to be realistic! Your goal should stretch your skills and abilities, but still be possible to achieve. When setting an achievable goal, try to determine the resources or opportunities you’ve previously overlooked may bring you closer to your goal.
For your goal to be achievable, you should be able to answer these questions:
• What should I do to accomplish this goal?
• Considering other constraints, like financial factors, how realistic is my goal?
SMART goal example: Check on your existing qualifications and experience, then ask yourself whether developing the skills needed to become the head of the marketing department is realistic. Ask yourself further, do you have the time needed to complete the necessary training effectively? Will the relevant resources be available to you? Do you have enough funds to do it?
If you don’t have the skill, time or money to achieve a certain goal, you could fail. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that you can’t achieve something that seems to be impossible. You simply need to deeply examine the resources you have available to you and plan accordingly in order to ensure your goal is achievable.
Bonus Tip! Be careful when setting your goals, especially if someone else has power over the outcome. For instance, getting a promotion will depend on your employer’s prerogative or who else applies for it. However, getting the training and experience required to be considered for the promotion is totally up to you.
4. Relevant
Why do you want to reach this goal? What motivates you to achieve this goal? This step is to make sure that your goal is important to you and it aligns with the other significant goals in your life.
To know that your goal is relevant to you, you should answer “Yes!” to these following questions:
• Is this the best time to work on this goal?
• Is this goal matched with your other needs?
• Are you the right person to achieve this goal?
• Does the goal seem valuable and worthwhile?
SMART goal example: You want to work on your skills so you’ll become the head of the marketing department within your organization, but is this really the best time to take on the needed training and grind some more for additional qualifications? Do you think you are the right employee for the role? How will this affect your present situation?
5. Time-bound
Each goal should have a target date. You need a deadline you can focus on and something to work toward. When setting a time-bound goal, you should answer these questions:
• What can I do five weeks, five months from now?
• What are the steps I can accomplish today to work on my goal?
SMART goal example: We already know that to become the head of the marketing department, you need to gain skills through additional experience or training, but how long will it take you to obtain these skills? Create a schedule for your trainings, and target dates for certain professional milestones such as managing one or two more high profile clients.
Final Thoughts
People that set SMART Goals have been proven to be more successful than people who don’t.
Remember that goal setting is much more than simply saying that you want something to happen. You must clearly define what exactly you want, make sure your goal is realistic, and understand why you are doing it in the first place. Then, you must be clear on how you will measure your progress towards your goal, and when your target date is to achieve the goal.
Setting SMART goals is a recipe for true success when it comes to accomplishing your goals in life and getting shit done!
Check out these great SMART goal setting templates to help you get started setting (and achieving) your goals today!
Get Free Goal Setting Worksheets
Your Turn:
What SMART goal will you set (and achieve!)? Share your goal with me in the comments below!
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