Today goal setting is paramount in every aspect of an individual’s personal or professional life. However, gaining those objectives cannot be by mere wish; it needs direction. This is where SMART Goals come in handy. SMART is undoubtedly one of the most known and used techniques to set and accomplish goals through the development of operational steps.
In this article, we will consider what is meant by the term SMART Goals, its types and how you can write SMART objectives.
“SMART Goals is an abbreviation that offers a framework of setting goals.”
Thus, the acronym SMART has been adopted to reflect criterion that helps to make the goal clearer, focused and achievable. In terms of setting goals, the acronym SMART means: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound.
Of all the success factors attached to goal setting, clarity stands out as a key. A specific goal is focused on an area that needs change. It is not possible to achieve a goal that isn’t well defined. A goal needs to be specific. For example, instead of saying ‘I need to enhance my career’ one might say, ‘I need to do a professional course in project management.’
The need for progress tracking makes it easier for a goal to be measurable in SMART Goals. In this criterion, goals must be set with parameters that assist you in identifying whether you are on track or straying off track. For instance, if the goal is ‘to save more’, state the goal clearly as ‘save £200 per month’. When you set certain parameters, there is a way to assign them a value to weigh your progress, which helps identify that you are moving in the right direction toward the end goal.
An achievable goal is a goal you should be capable of attaining without encountering undue hardship. This does not mean that you should set low goals, but rather set goals that you can work towards, reach and go above. Concentrating on achievable goals also helps not only to create velocity as progress is made from each of the goals set, but also increases the potential for success.
A relevant goal fits into your career plan. It should be aligned to the values, needs and goals which are expected in the long run. For example, if you are aiming at promotion at your workplace, chances are that there is no need to have a new hobby as the skills may be more relevant than having a new hobby.
Time-bound goals help keep up the pressure so that the accomplishment of the target is actively sought after. Similarly, it will be more efficient to change vague long-term goals like “someday I want to finish a project” to a concrete goal with a deadline like “I want to finish this project before the end of the month.” How can one ensure that one’s SMART goal has a time frame added to it? It becomes useful to add a clear deadline or timeline to make you get focused and stick to working on the goal.
In essence, the SMART Goals can be developed for different aspects of life. Here are types of SMART Goals in both personal and professional contexts:
Professional SMART Goal:
A Professional SMART Goal is an outcome that improves the proficiency that relates to the professional field. For example, “Take a certification course in project management and ensure I have completed one within the next six months and use the skills in group work.” Such goals are specific and time-bound, and this makes it easy to view them as career advancement objectives.
Personal SMART Goal:
A Personal SMART Goal is self-oriented; that is, it deals mainly with the welfare of the personal interest of the goal setter. An example is, “Get physically fit through gym sessions three times in a week for three coming months and get my lifting weights to be 10% heavier every subsequent month.” This goal is measurable, and also brings sanity in the sense that a person is shaped by the packages offered.
Here are the 5 steps to write SMART Goals:
State what purpose you seek to serve well in order to make your goal precise and easily understood. Prevent ambiguous goals by being clear on what you wish to accomplish. A specific goal provides you with a specific vision and focal point for the work you are doing.
Some goals must include clear measurable targets to monitor achievement such as amount of exercise per week or specific amounts of savings per month. The other advantage of defining metrics is that it offers a way to track progress and keep stakeholders motivated as one progresses.
Assess whether the goal is realistic given your skills, resources, and time. Think about any constraints and it should not be too hard to set a goal, which can still be achieved without too much pressure.
Make sure your goal contributes to your long-term personal or professional objectives. Make it relevant and create one with an organisational purpose that aligns with greater goals and enhances growth.
Set a time frame that is rigorous but realistic, and it has to be reasonable and strictly within a given period of time. Knowing that there is a deadline set means that time will be well managed, and the work will be approached progressively.
There are a few SMART Goal setting guidelines to follow that will enhance your goal-setting experience:
Be honest with your abilities and resources: Try to set your targets realistic and at the same time achievable.
Write down your goals: When goals are written down, they appear more real than just being made orally.
Regularly review progress: Always have a look at the progress you are making and make alterations as needed.
Celebrate small wins: It does not matter how small the steps are towards your goal; you need to accept success now and then.
The implementation of these SMART Goal setting guidelines ensures commitment and enjoys the fruits of incremental achievement.
Goal setting is helpful in any endeavour that is being pursued in life as a way of realising any dream. The general framework for goal setting is the SMART principle, and this principle is a complete system for the formulation of concise and well-coordinated goals. Regardless of the type, professional or personal, your application of the SMART goal will improve the likelihood of achieving them due to elements of specifics, measure, attainability, relevance and time factors. So next time you are putting a goal in place, make sure you have to follow the SMART steps.
To advance your career, consider taking comprehensive Management Courses from the British Academy of Training and Development. One can acquire skills in leadership, strategic planning, and organisational management through these courses from experienced personnel in the field.