Goal setting is something that everyone does or has to do in order to achieve what they want in life. We all know about short-term goals and long-term goals, but did you know about SMART goals? When we talk about SMART goals, we don’t mean goals that need to make sense or those clever goals; the key word ‘SMART’ here actually stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
Many people are ambitious about their future and know that they have to set certain goals for themselves, but they fail to set SMART goals. When you set SMART goals for yourself, you clarify your goals and know where to work in particular, you learn to track your goals, you set those goals for yourself that you can actually achieve, and that means something to you, and you do all of this in a certain duration.
When you have purpose and clarity, and that can be for anything in life, you do things better. You do things to the best ability, and you do them in ways that help you achieve your final outcome.
What are SMART goals?
Each letter in ‘SMART’ is an adjective that helps you attain your goals effectively, and here’s what each one of them actually means:
Specific: this means that your goal needs to have something in particular that you wish to achieve
Measurable: this means that your goals have to be set in such a way that you can quantify them and evaluate them
Achievable: this may sound like a basic requirement, but the key to setting SMART goals is to set realistic goals that you can actually achieve
Relevant: your goals need to be in line with what you do and realistic
Time-bound: your goals need to be time-bound and need to be achieved in a certain time period only
By creating SMART goals, you set goals for yourself that you can actually help achieve in a certain time duration and track your progress on too. Let’s look into each one of them individually:
1. Specific
When a goal is specific, it clearly defines what you’re aiming for. Without that clarity, it’s easy to lose focus, and you might not even know where to start. A well-defined goal helps you stay on track because you understand exactly what needs to be done. Think of it like having a roadmap—if you know your destination, you can figure out the best route to get there. To make your goal specific, answer these key questions:
- What do I want to achieve? Knowing the exact outcome helps you avoid distractions.
- Why is this goal important to me? Understanding the reason behind your goal gives you motivation.
- Who else is involved? Knowing who can support or benefit from the goal helps in planning.
- Where will I work on this goal? The location or environment could affect how you achieve your goal.
- What resources or limitations should I consider? Knowing what’s available or what could block your progress helps you prepare.
Example: Let’s say you’re a student who wants to improve in math. A specific goal would be, “I want to improve my math grade by practicing at least 30 minutes every day for the next two months, so I can get a B or higher on my next exam.” This goal is clear and gives you a strong direction to follow. Or imagine you’re a graphic designer and want to take on more leadership responsibilities. A specific goal could be, “I want to improve my leadership skills by taking a management course and leading two team projects this year, so I can become a senior designer in my company.” This goal is focused, has a clear action plan, and gives you a way to measure progress.
2. Measurable
When a goal is measurable, you have clear ways to track your progress and see how far you’ve come. This is important because it keeps you motivated and helps you stay on target. Breaking your goal down into measurable steps allows you to celebrate small wins, adjust your efforts if needed, and know when you’ve reached success.
To make your goal measurable, consider asking yourself questions like:
- How much progress do I need to make at different stages to stay on track?
- How many tasks, activities, or milestones need to be completed for me to achieve this goal?
- How often should I check my progress to make sure I’m moving in the right direction?
- How long will it take to complete each part of the goal, and how will I know I’m staying on schedule?
- How will I know when I’ve fully accomplished the goal? What will success look like?
- How can I measure the outcome or result of my efforts?
Example: If your goal is to improve your writing skills, a measurable goal could be, “I want to write 500 words every day for three months, and complete a short story by the end of that time.” This gives you a clear word count to hit daily and a timeline for finishing your story. Tracking your daily word count and seeing your progress over time will show you how close you are to achieving your goal.
3. Achievable
When setting a goal, it’s important to ensure that it’s achievable. This means your goal should challenge you but still be possible to accomplish. A goal that’s too difficult might leave you feeling frustrated, while an easy one won’t push you to grow. By setting an achievable goal, you can also discover resources or opportunities you hadn’t thought of before, making it easier to reach your target.
To determine if your goal is achievable, consider asking yourself these questions:
- How can I realistically achieve this goal with the resources I currently have at my disposal?
- Is this goal possible, given any limitations I might face, like time constraints or financial factors?
- What specific steps do I need to take to make this goal a reality?
- Do I need to acquire new skills or knowledge to reach this goal? If so, how can I go about doing that?
- Are there people who can support me or provide guidance as I work toward this goal?
- How will I measure my progress along the way to ensure I’m on track?
- What potential obstacles might I encounter, and how can I prepare to overcome them?
Example: Imagine you’re a sales manager who wants to increase your team’s quarterly sales by 20%. An achievable goal could be, “I will increase my team’s sales by 20% in the next quarter by implementing weekly training sessions and setting individual targets for each team member.” This goal is realistic because you have the resources (training sessions and the ability to set targets), and it allows your team to grow while working toward a challenging but attainable objective. With clear steps in place, you can stay committed and track your progress throughout the quarter.
4. Relevant
When setting a goal, it’s important to make sure it’s relevant. This means the goal should be meaningful to you and should fit with your broader plans. A relevant goal is something that helps you move forward in the direction you want to go. It should also align with other goals you might have and make sense in your current situation.
A relevant goal answers “yes” to questions like:
- Is this goal worth pursuing? Will it bring value to my life or career?
- Is this the right time for me to focus on this goal?
- Does this goal match my other plans or priorities?
- Am I the right person to work on this, or should someone else be involved?
- Is this goal still a good fit, given what’s happening around me, like changes in the economy or my personal life?
Example: Imagine you’re a professional looking to improve your leadership skills. A relevant goal could be, “I want to take a leadership course this year to better manage my team and help the company grow.” Before setting this goal, you would ask yourself if it fits with your current career path, if now is the right time to invest in learning new skills, and if it will benefit both you and your team. If the answer to these questions is yes, then the goal is relevant and worth pursuing.
5. Time-bound
When setting a goal, it’s essential to give yourself a clear deadline. Without a timeline, it’s easy to lose focus or put off working on your goal, especially when other daily tasks or responsibilities come up. A time-bound goal provides structure and a sense of urgency, helping you prioritize what really matters. Having a specific deadline not only keeps you motivated but also helps you measure your progress as the deadline approaches. By breaking your goal into smaller time frames, such as months, weeks, or even days, you can make steady progress and avoid feeling overwhelmed by the bigger picture. A deadline encourages action and keeps you accountable, ensuring that you don’t let your goal drift endlessly into the future.
A time-bound goal answers questions like:
- When do I want to achieve this goal?
- What can I do six months from now to be closer to my goal?
- What can I do in the next six weeks to make progress?
- What can I start doing today to move toward my goal?
Example: Let’s say you want to improve your skills in graphic design. A time-bound goal could be, “I want to complete an online design course within the next three months and create a portfolio of at least five projects by the end of the year.” This goal has clear deadlines—three months for the course and the end of the year for the portfolio. These time limits help you stay focused and make sure you’re working steadily toward your goal.
Why You Need to Set SMART Goals
When you set goals for yourself, don’t just classify them into short-term or long-term goals. By creating SMART goals for yourself, you will be creating goals that you can actually motivate yourself to achieve because you’ll know what you have to do every step of the way. By making your goals specific, you will know what exactly you need to accomplish and what action plan you need to make in order to accomplish it. By making your goals measurable, you will be able to make them meaningful and motivational for yourself. You will also be able to track your progress and move towards your goals in a steady manner. By making your goals achievable, you will set realistic goals for yourself. In this way, you will feel close to the goal you want to achieve and make every effort count. Moreover, when you set achievable goals and actually accomplish them, it motivates you to achieve more goals for yourself. Setting relevant goals is critical so you can achieve those things that truly matter to you and know which direction to keep yourself in. Moreover, relevant goals are reasonable and realistic, so you work toward goals by working on those action plans that you’re familiar with. They also keep you aligned with your priorities and keep you adaptable. Also since your goals are relevant to you and your needs, you feel very rewarded when you achieve them, and that’s a great driving and motivating force. Last but not least, setting time-bound goals gives you a sense of urgency and a final push to work toward your goals in a timely manner and achieve them. Many of us work better under pressure, and deadlines are ways through which we can complete our tasks. A goal-setting calendar is also a great way through which time-bound goals can be achieved. When you have a daily or weekly goal to accomplish, your action plan is aligned with a timeline, and you are consistently working toward your goals.
To conclude, setting SMART goals for yourself is probably one of the best goal-setting methods out there to bring you close to your goals.
