The SMART acronym is a great tool for making sure our goals and instructions are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timed. It helps us clarify what we want to accomplish and set deadlines to make sure it produces the results we want in the timeframe we need. The six steps below will help you formulate your goals in the most effective way possible.
Step 1: Consider Your Intentions. What is the end result I want to achieve? Why is this important to me and/or the organization?
Step 2: Make it Specific. If someone else read this goal, would they be able to execute it without me having to explain it? Does it provide answers to: Who? What? When? and Where? Is it short and concise?
Step 3: Make it Measurable. "What gets measured gets done." How will I know that this goal or milestone has been accomplished and to what standard? How will I measure it and how frequently will I do so?
Step 4: Make it Attainable. Can this goal (with some stretching) be accomplished in the timeframe I have indicated? If not, break down the goal into smaller pieces and write a goal statement for the first step.
Step 5: Make it Relevant. If goals aren't or don't feel relevant we tend to put them on the backburner. How does this goal align with the bigger picture (personally and professionally)? What "pains" would I experience if I didn't get this goal accomplished?
Step 6: Make it Timed. Most goals fail because we haven't indicated the timeframe in which we want to have them accomplished. Have I established an overall deadline for when this goal must be accomplished? Have I indicated milestones or smaller deadlines for contributing activities? By when do I want this to be accomplished?
