Setting Goals the SMART-er Way

Goal setting is tough for everyone, especially in a world that is changing at a faster pace everyday. Sometimes, the typical SMART Goal (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) formula does not work, even though it helps people think through the specifics of their goals.

What is a SMART Goal?

• First off, a SMART Goal is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound, but what does that actually mean?

• Specific – The goal should answer some of the who, what, where, when and why questions.

• Measurable – What measurable actions should be taken to accomplish the goal?

• Achievable – Keep the goal realistic using the knowledge and resources you have at the time.

• Relevant – Why is it important to achieve this goal now? What greater objective is it in service of?

• Time-Bound – Your goal should have a deadline for completion.

What is missing from SMART Goals?

Most of us can struggle to be kind and compassionate to ourselves. This can make goal setting, even using a SMART frame, difficult. A couple of points missing from SMART goal-setting are:

• Taking fast changing circumstances into account. An achievable goal becomes unachievable within a week or two.

• It is hard to keep morale up, especially if something is delayed without a timeline or otherwise not going to plan.

How to change SMART Goals into SMART-er Goals?

There are three points added to SMART Goals that increases success rate.

The ‘R’ in SMART changes from Relevant to Review. In this section put how often the goal will be checked, what is going to be checked, and how the goal can be adjusted. Relevant is still important, so those questions get moved to the Specific section.

Measurable does not move, but it does get added to. In addition to having measurable actions, include a ‘prize’ or motivation for accomplishing the steps.

Achievable remains the same, but add a final last step. ‘I will celebrate completing this goal by…’. This makes it easier to look back on past accomplishments to move forward.

What does a SMART-er Goal look like?

Here’s an example of this framework using the changed SMART goals for learning how to communicate with others:

Specific (and Relevant)

I want to learn how to communicate with my team in a way that sets clear expectations and promotes honesty and trust on both sides

So I will:

• Ask my team what they find unclear about my communication style

• Find resources about communication from a variety of sources

• Practice the new techniques I learn about

Measurable (Plus)

I will set aside two hours per week to learn about communication

I will try one new technique every week

When I complete one of these tasks I will take 30 minutes additional minutes of ‘me’ time when I get home

Achievable (Plus)

I will take constructive criticism from my team on board and use it to direct my learning

I will check current internal communication offerings, check for third-party online-courses, and ask my communities for resource recommendations

I will block learning time in my calendar so remember to take time to do it

When my team is comfortable with how I communicate I will make a mood board in my accomplishments folder

Review

I will ask my team every month about my communication style and take any new constructive criticism to redirect and change my learning plan

If my learning is not improving my communication, I will talk to my supervisor about this hole in my skills

Time-Bound

I want to complete this goal in six months

Sources: LinkedIn Learning Course: Getting Organized for Peak Performance