A Clear and Structured Approach to Setting & Achieving Goals
Goals refer to specific objectives, targets, or outcomes that an individual, organization, or team aims to achieve. Goals can be short-term or long-term, personal or professional, and can help provide direction, motivation, and a sense of purpose. S.M.A.R.T. goals address the importance of focusing your attention, time and resources so you can achieve the tasks at hand. The process of setting goals typically involves identifying what is important, establishing measurable benchmarks, and developing a plan for achieving the desired outcome. Next time you need to set goals, keep the S.M.A.R.T. method in mind.
Specific
Specific goals have a desired outcome that is clearly understood. This might be a sales number or a weight loss goal. No matter what it is, the goal should be clearly articulated so that anyone involved is on the same page with the objective. Define what will be accomplished and the actions to be taken to accomplish the goal.
Measurable
These are the numbers used with the goal. You need to have a quantifiable objective so that you can track progress. For a sales goal, how many sales a week or month do you need to achieve to reach the goal? How many pounds per week do you plan to lose, or what is your daily calorie intake? Define what data will be used to measure the goal and set a method for collection.
Achievable
Goals need to be realistic in order to maintain the enthusiasm to try to achieve them. Setting lofty goals is good, but you may want to break them down into smaller, bite-sized chunks. If the goal is not doable, you may find yourself giving up early, or cheating the numbers, or you may have to redefine what the goal is in order to make it achievable.
Relevant
Don’t set goals just as an exercise for something to do. One way to determine if the goal is relevant is to define the key benefit to you, or if work related to the team or company. Goals should be aligned with what your desired outcome is.
Time-Bound
Set a deadline. A goal without a deadline doesn’t do much. How can you identify success or failure? This is why S.M.A.R.T. goals set a final date. This doesn’t mean that all the work is done, but it means that you can evaluate the success of the endeavor and adjust or set new goals as needed.
It's important to remember that achieving goals takes time, effort, and dedication, and that setbacks are a normal part of the process. Stay focused, be persistent, and believe in yourself and your abilities. By setting S.M.A.R.T. goals, you can increase the chances of successfully achieving your desired outcomes and stay motivated along the way.
Blog post written by P3 Account Executive, Adam Hartung. Connect with him on LinkedIn!