SMART helps provide clarity and motivation to achieve goals through defining objectives and setting deadlines. SMART goals can be used in any situation, making them an effective tool for leaders in any type of organization. SMART helps achieve effective project management and allows for reevaluation as necessary.
One con to SMART goals is that there are many interpretations, meaning there might be misunderstandings when it comes to setting these goals and the way they are set up doesn’t allow for much flexibility. SMART goals might also add pressure on the team to succeed, so managing expectations and keeping these goals achievable will help relieve that.
Some ways to follow through on your goals are to write them down and if you are sharing these goals with your team, place the written goals somewhere where everyone can read them. Goals can also be shared with a mentor, someone who will support and encourage you. Evaluate your progress regularly and check-in to see how things are moving along; if something isn’t working well, checking in will help you see that sooner. Finally, celebrate your successes, even the small victories.
Leonard, K. (2022, May 11). The ultimate guide to S.M.A.R.T. goals. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/smart-goals/
MindTools. (n.d.). SMART goals: how to make your goals achievable. https://www.mindtools.com/a4wo118/smart-goals
This aspect pertains to what you will achieve and what you will do. Being specific helps guide the goal and helps you feel motivated to complete it. There are five questions to consider:
This aspect is to determine the necessary data to assess if you’ve met your goal. Having measurable goals will help track any progress and stay focused. The question that should be the focus of this part is “how will I know when it is accomplished?”
This aspect is to ascertain if you have the right skills and resources necessary to achieve your goal. For a goal to be successful, it needs to be realistic and attainable. Setting achievable goals helps identify previously overlooked resources and brings you closer to accomplishing the goal. A couple questions to consider are:
This aspect pertains to determining if the goal aligns with the team and organization. Determining if this goal matters to you and that it aligns with other goals is important and determining their relevance helps maintain control over them. Questions to consider:
This aspect is where you determine a deadline for accomplishing the goal. Creating a deadline gives you something to focus on and work toward, as without having a deadline, the goal might get pushed back or sidelined. Deadlines help prevent other everyday tasks from taking priority. Some questions to consider are: