What are SMART Goals?

Setting the right goals is the foundation for achieving desired success. Maybe you want to grow your career, turn a hobby into something more, or build better relationships. Whatever your goal is, S.M.A.R.T. is an easy mnemonic tool you can use to set and pursue personal and professional goals.

The S.M.A.R.T. mnemonic was created by G. T. Doran in 1981 to help managers and leaders set performance goals that are Specific, Measurable, Assignable, Realistic, and Time Related. Today, S.M.A.R.T. is widely used by individuals, coaches, and companies to define, set and pursue goals.

How do you set S.M.A.R.T. Goals?

Use S.M.A.R.T. or OKRs to set and track your goals. Start with the end of the year in mind. Use action verbs. Make your goals realistic to achieve and challenging enough to keep you interested. Be clear, concise and positive. The greater the goal task challenge you set out to achieve — without going into a state of panic — the more likely it is that you will increase your goal achievement. People who set challenging goals can achieve more than people who do not set goals. 

S.M.A.R.T. Tips

Specific

Set specific challenging goals with a clear success point. Start with the end in mind. Be precise and concise. Write goals and actions down. Get started now!

• What do you want to achieve?
• On a scale of 1-10, how challenging is this goal for you to achieve?

Measurable

Set metrics to track goal your goals

• How will you know when your goal has been achieved?
• What objective metrics will you set to track goal progress?

Assignable

Setting goals you can control is vital to motivating achievement.

• Who will do the work to attain the goal?

Realistic

Set challenging goals within your reach to achieve.

• What realistic results can be achieved?
• What resources do you need to achieve goal (eg. time)?

Time and Tasks

A goal is not a goal without a deadline. Set dates to start working on your goal, the milestones along the way, and your realistic date of accomplishment.

• What action steps you will take?
• How?
• When will the goal be achieved?