SMART Goals

1. SMART Goals

Let's look at another type of goal. These are called SMART goals. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Action-oriented, Realistic, Time-phased. These are the characteristics we'd like to see in our goals.

Let's look at each criteria further:

• Specific: Without specific communication, goals become unclear. As you saw earlier, team members may draw different conclusions when things are unclear. They're not very sure about the priorities, and it may lead to conflict.
• Measurable: If you don't have measurable results, there's a lack of accountability.
• Action-oriented: You have to put forth the effort and the action that's required of the goal. Otherwise, there's a lack of progress.
• Realistic: You want to set realistic goals. No one likes being set up to fail. If the goals are not realistic, the team members start to feel overwhelmed and a little lost.
• Time-phased: If you do not set up deadlines along the way, you risk missing targets and, ultimately, that final deadline or goal that was set in place.

term to know

SMART Goals

A framework developed in 1981 by business consultant George T. Doran that emphasizes goals should be clearly-written, measurable, and reachable.

2. SMART Goal Examples

EXAMPLE

Take a look at the following statement:

I will attend 2 local workshops on "How to Create Custom Widgets" by November 10.

You can see the SMART goal written out here.

Specific	Measurable	Action-oriented	Realistic	Time-phased
...on "How to Create Custom Widgets"...	...2 workshops...	I will attend...	...local...	...by November 10.

It's very specific; the workshops are about "How to Create Custom Widgets". The measurable aspect of this specific statement is: two workshops. The action-oriented statement is: "I will attend..." (Note: this is not "should attend" or "like to attend," it is "I will attend.") It is realistic because the workshops are local, and of course, time-phased, because this will be done by November 10th.

While the word widget might seem like a vague term to use for a goal, it was selected simply for the purpose of this exercise. You might imagine a widget to be a birdhouse, display rack, custom cabinet, or any number of craft projects.

EXAMPLE

Let's look at another statement:

I need to get healthy in time for the high school reunion on August 15.

What is wrong with the statement?

Specific	Measurable	Action-oriented	Realistic	Time-phased
...to get healthy in time for the high school reunion...	?	I need...	?	...on August 15

There is no measurable result. How will I know if this is successful? This missing element would impact the team, and the team would not know whether it was successful or not. Because of the missing information in the specific statement, this goal cannot be called realistic.

try it

How can you rewrite this statement to make it a SMART goal?

I need to get healthy in time for the high school reunion on August 15.

This new statement has all the components of a SMART goal:
I will lose 8 pounds by August 15 by attending yoga class 3x a week at my local gym.

Finally, here you can see the SMART goal written out.

Specific	Measurable	Action-oriented	Realistic	Time-phased
...by attending yoga class...	...8 pounds... ...3x a week...	I will lose...	...at my local gym.	...August 15

This version is measurable. A person can track the numerical quantities of "eight pounds" and "three times a week." It will be very clear if you are not meeting these measurable results. This new statement is action-oriented, realistic, and time-phased. Writing SMART goals takes time, but many people find great satisfaction in the process as they see their goals clearly defined and eventually achieved.