The SMART acronym stands for goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timely. Having actionable, achievable goals, that are relevant and timebound, with measurable outcomes is a clear and definite way to achieve success and growth for your life, your business, and your career but what does the acronym mean and how do you use it?
S = SPECIFIC
Having a clear, well defined, specific outcome in mind is key to making a SMART goal. Vague or generalized goals are unhelpful because they don’t provide sufficient direction. Making a specific goal means that you can narrow your focus and get a concise picture of exactly what you want to achieve and what steps you should take to accomplish the goal. Remember, you need goals to show you the way so make it as easy as you can to get where you want to go by defining precisely where you want to end up.
M = MEASURABLE
Without a way to measure your success, how will you know you have achieved something? When you set goals, it’s important to make sure you know what metrics you will use to evaluate whether and when you’ve met your goal. They can be quantitative or qualitative so include precise amounts, dates, and so on in your goals so you can measure your degree of success.
A = ACHIEVABLE
It’s important to be realistic in terms of achieving your goals. You can still dream big but make sure you define how achievable the goal is, and what would work best for you to achieve it without overstretching your capacity. If you set a goal that you have no hope of achieving, you will only demotivate yourself and erode your confidence but resist the urge to set goals that are too easy. Set goals that challenge you requiring you to ‘raise the bar,’ these will bring you the greatest personal satisfaction.
R = RELEVANT
Relevant goals help you identify the direction you want your life, business and career to take. For example, if you run a business that involves selling products, a relevant goal could be to increase the number of products sold by 15% per quarter. If increasing product sales are relevant to your specific objective and the success of your business, then the goal meets the SMART criteria.
T = TIMELY
Having a timeframe for when you want to achieve your goal by makes the process of planning and executing clearer and more prepared. A deadline can be a powerful motivator, and it will help you work towards a clear finish line so you can celebrate your success.
Writing your own SMART goals can be done easily and will help you in many ways. Below are some extra tips to help:
- Set SMART Goals That Motivate You
When you set goals for yourself, it is important that they motivate you: this means making sure that they are important to you, and that there is value in achieving them. If you have little interest in the outcome, or they are irrelevant given the larger picture, then the chances of you putting in the work to make them happen are slim. Motivation is key to achieving goals.
- Set Goals in Writing
The physical act of writing down a goal makes it real and tangible. You have no excuse for forgetting about it. As you write, use the word “will” instead of “would like to” or “might.” For example, “I will increase my client base by 10 percent this year,” not “I would like to increase my client base by 10 percent this year.”
- Make your Goals Visible
Post your goals in visible places to remind yourself every day of what it is you intend to do. Put them on your walls, desk, computer monitor, bathroom mirror or refrigerator as a constant reminder. You can even share them with family, friends and colleagues for added motivation.
- Create an Action Plan
Planning is key so having a clear framework with the steps you’ll need to take, resources necessary to get there and milestones to track progress along the way will ensure you are much more likely to achieve your goal efficiently and effectively. It’s especially important if your goal is big, demanding, or long-term.
- Be Consistent!
Remember, goal setting is an ongoing activity, not just a means to an end. Build in reminders to keep yourself on track and make regular time-slots available to review your goals. Your end destination may remain quite similar over the long term, but the action plan you set for yourself along the way can change significantly. Make sure the relevance, value, and necessity remain high.
Goal setting is much more than simply saying you want something to happen. Unless you clearly define exactly what you want and understand why you want it the first place, your odds of success are considerably reduced. By following these tips, you can set goals with confidence and enjoy the satisfaction that comes along with knowing you achieved what you set out to do.
If you are looking for help to put your SMART goals in place within your business or perhaps you are looking for some executive coaching or business consultancy services, please contact us.
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The Importance of SMART Goals | Creating Potential 2022