S.M.A.R.T. Goals

We’ve all made action plans at some point in our lives (new year resolutions, anyone?), but more often than not, fail to see them through. Perhaps it’s time to try a smarter approach. S.M.A.R.T. goal is a framework for setting and achieving goals. It is widely used in personal and professional contexts.

The acronym S.M.A.R.T. stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Using this framework can help ensure that your goals are clear, actionable, and achievable, which can increase your chances of success.

Elements of S.M.A.R.T. goal

As the name implies, there are 5 elements to S.M.A.R.T. goal.

1. Specific

The first element of S.M.A.R.T. goals is Specific. A specific goal is clear and well-defined. It answers the questions: what do I want to accomplish? Why is this goal important? How will I achieve this goal? For example, a specific goal could be “I want to increase my website’s monthly unique visitors from 10,000 to 50,000 within the next year.”

2. Measurable

A measurable goal can be quantified and tracked. This helps to determine progress and evaluate the effectiveness of your efforts within a given time frame. For example, a measurable goal could be “I will write two blog posts per week for the next month.” This can be easily tracked by counting the number of posts published at the end of the month.

3. Achievable

The third element is Achievable. An achievable goal is realistic and feasible given the resources and constraints you have. It is important to set goals that are challenging but not impossible. For example, a goal of “I will run a marathon in under 3 hours” would be achievable for someone who is already an experienced runner and has been training for several months, while the same goal would be unachievable for someone who finds it difficult to run a complete loop around his neighbourhood playground.

4. Relevant

Aligned with your values, interests, and overall objectives with goals that are relevant. This will help you achieve what you want in the long run. Furthermore, they are aligned with your personal and professional aspirations. For example, a relevant goal could be to “start a small business in a field that I’m passionate about within the next year.”

5. Time-bound

The final element of S.M.A.R.T goals is Time-bound. A time-bound goal has a defined start and end date. This helps to create a sense of urgency and ensures that progress is being made. This also allows you to track and measure the progress of the goal and make any necessary adjustments. For example, a time-bound goal could be “I will pay off my credit card debt in the next 12 months.”

By setting specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals, you increase your chances of making progress toward what you truly want.

It is worth noting that setting S.M.A.R.T. goals is not enough; you have to have a clear plan on how you will achieve the goals and take action towards achieving them. You need an action plan. But this smart goal framework is a good place to begin.

Be flexible and have an adaptable plan. Some elements of the goals can change and you might have to re-evaluate and adjust. Also, it is important to have a system to regularly track progress and measure your performance. This will help you stay motivated and make adjustments if needed.

Origins of the S.M.A.R.T. goal concept

The concept was first introduced by George T. Doran, a management consultant and the Director of Corporate Planning for the Washington Water Power Company. In a 1981 article published in the “Management Review” magazine, Doran presented the S.M.A.R.T. acronym as a way to help managers set clear, actionable goals.

Doran’s original definition of S.M.A.R.T. goals included the following five elements: Specific, Measurable, Assignable, Realistic, and Time-bound. The acronym has since evolved and the common version used today is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

The idea of S.M.A.R.T. goals quickly caught on. Many business and management circles adopted it. The goals have been applied in personal and professional contexts. This includes education, healthcare, and personal development. S.M.A.R.T. goals have become an important tool for individuals and organisations to set and achieve their objectives in a clear and structured way.

Do note that S.M.A.R.T. goals are not the only way of setting goals, but it is one of the most well-known and widely used. There are other methods and techniques available such as OKR (Objectives and Key Results) and BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) but they all share the same purpose of helping users set and achieve their targets. 

S.M.A.R.T goal has its disadvantages

While S.M.A.R.T. goals is a widely used and generally effective framework, there are also some potential disadvantages to consider. Here are a few:

Rigidity

S.M.A.R.T. goals can be quite rigid and prescriptive, which can limit creativity and flexibility. The focus on specific, measurable, and time-bound goals can create a sense of pressure and urgency, which can inhibit experimentation and risk-taking. This can be especially problematic in creative or rapidly changing fields, where being able to think outside the box and adapt to new circumstances are important.

Over-focus on short-term goals

The emphasis on time-bound goals in S.M.A.R.T. goals can lead to an over-focus on short-term goals at the expense of long-term ones. While it is important to have a sense of urgency and make progress, it’s also important to consider the long-term implications of your actions and make sure that short-term goals are aligned with your long-term vision.

Lack of context

S.M.A.R.T. goals are often set in a vacuum, without considering the wider context of the situation. This can lead to goals that are not relevant to the bigger picture. They can be misaligned with the organisation’s overall objectives.

S.M.A.R.T. goal lacks attention to the process

The framework focuses on the outcome, but not on the process of achieving it. Sometimes the process of achieving the goal is more important than the outcome and can make a difference in long-term impact.

S.M.A.R.T. goal lacks emotional engagement

The framework is often viewed as cold, analytical, and technical, with little attention to the emotional and motivational factors that are critical to goal achievement. Emotional engagement is important to have a sense of purpose and motivation, which is a key factor to drive people to achieve their goals.

It’s important to remember that while S.M.A.R.T. goals are a useful framework, it is not the only way to set and achieve goals, and it is not always the best approach for every situation. Consider the specific context and purpose of the goal, and be open to other approaches and frameworks. Combining S.M.A.R.T goals with other methods like OKR or BHAG to achieve more holistic goal setting can be very effective.

Adapting the S.M.A.R.T. goal framework in your personal life

There are many worthy goals to strive toward where personal life and development are concerned, whether it’s learning a new skill, home improvement, or increasing your fitness.

Let’s look at how using S.M.A.R.T. goals in your personal life can help you set and achieve those targets. 

1. Identify your objectives: Start by identifying the things you want to achieve. This can include anything from improving your fitness, and finishing a piece of art to learning a new language.
2. Make them specific: Once you have identified your objectives, make sure that they are specific. What exactly do you want to achieve? Why is it important? How will you achieve it? Be as clear and detailed as possible.
3. Make them measurable: Next, enable your objectives to be tracked and measured. How will you know when you have achieved your goal? How will you measure your progress along the way?
4. Make them achievable: Are your objectives realistic? They should be feasible and attainable given the resources and constraints you have. For example, building a shed in your backyard is more achievable than building the next rover to land on Mars.
5. Make them relevant: Ensure that your objectives are relevant. In fact, they should align with your values, interests, and overall aspirations.
6. Make them time-bound: Set a deadline for achieving your goal. This will create a sense of urgency and ensure you monitor your progress at regular intervals.
7. Develop a plan: Once you have set your S.M.A.R.T. goals, develop a plan for achieving them. Identify the steps you need to take, the resources you need, and the potential obstacles you may encounter.
8. Track your progress: Set a system to regularly track your progress and measure your performance. You may want to consider sharing your plan and goal with someone who will help keep you accountable.
9. Be flexible: Goals can change as life changes. So, it’s okay to change your plans too. Remember to be flexible and adaptable. If any element of your goal changes, re-evaluate and adjust accordingly.

Using the S.M.A.R.T. goal framework at work

S.M.A.R.T. goals can be a powerful tool in the workplace for individuals and teams to set goals and achieve success within a time frame. Here’s how it can help you and your team make an action plan and hit your departmental or organisational targets:

1. Improve clarity and focus: S.M.A.R.T. goals provide a clear and specific framework for setting objectives. This can help to improve clarity and focus on what needs to be done. This can increase productivity and motivation, and help to ensure that everyone is working towards the same goals.
2. Enhance accountability: A measurable framework makes it easy to track progress and evaluate the effectiveness of efforts. This can enhance accountability and ensure that everyone is working towards their individual goals.
3. Align individual and team objectives: Building a S.M.A.R.T. goal framework can help align individual and team objectives with the overall goals of the organisation. It helps to make sure that everyone’s goals are relevant and contribute to the organisation’s overall mission.
4. Improve communication: When objectives are clear and specific, communication improves because everyone is on the same page. This can also increase collaboration and teamwork.
5. Facilitate goal attainment: Objectives that are actionable and achievable are more likely to bring success. In this way, the framework helps to facilitate goal attainment and make sure that everyone is working to achieve business goals. 
6. Enhance performance management: S.M.A.R.T. goals can be used in performance management to set clear expectations and evaluate performance. It can help identify specific areas where an individual or team needs improvement, and help set development plans to reach their goals.

So the next time you aspire to tackle a major project at home or at work, give the S.M.A.R.T. goal framework a try. It’s not the only method of goal-setting, but it has proven its usefulness.

If used correctly, it can help you or your team to track progress, evaluate effectiveness, enhance accountability, set clear expectations, and improve alignment as a team.

Need help?

Need assistance in taking your career or your team’s performance to the next level? We’re here to help. Besides the S.M.A.R.T. goal framework, we have various tools we’ve deployed in our extensive coaching experience to lead many to success. Connect with us here.