How SMART Are Your Goals?

The idea of translating vague, general, lofty resolutions into clear and attainable goals has become near standard practice in many businesses.  Educational units, after years of fluff and puffery, are finally joining the parade.  Now, it’s time to get clearer on our personal resolutions and turn them into clear and attainable goals.  The SMART acronym refers to goals that are:

• Specific
• Measurable
• Attainable
• Realistic
• Tangible

There are many variations on the descriptive words that make up the SMART letters, but generally, here are descriptions of each point:

• Specific – A specific goal is easier to reach than a general one.  State clearly what you want to accomplish.  “Lose some weight” is too vague.  “Lose 10 pounds” is more specific.
• Measurable – How will you measure your progress toward reaching your goal?  How will you know whether you are making progress?  “I want to be a good writer” isn’t really measurable.  “I want to write 2 pages of an article per day” is better.
• Attainable – Can you do it?  You should have to work at it, but your goal must really be possible.  If your goal is to climb Mt. Everest, do you have what it takes to actually do it?
• Realistic – You must be willing AND able to work toward your goal.  A pie-in-the-sky goal is really not a goal at all.  Make it real.
• Tangible – Can you experience your goal with one of your senses?  Give yourself a definite time frame to accomplish a goal.  Otherwise, it’s not a goal at all.

SMARTER Goals:  Two additional categories were added by some resources:

• Evaluate – how well are you accomplishing your goal?
• Re-do – After evaluation, re-work the goal if needed, or decide what else you must do to get the job done.

Susan Heathfield wrote that that SMART goals, as traditionally defined, are becoming as extinct as dinosaurs.  She suggested a broader range of words for the SMART acronym (some of her words are slightly different from the above model):

• Specific – but add Stretching, Systematic, Synergistic, Significant, Shifting
• Measurable – plus Meaningful, Memorable, Motivating, Magical
• Achievable – plus Action plans, Accountability, Acumen, Agreed-upon
• Relevant – but also Realistic, Reasonable, Resonating, Results-oriented, Rewarding,  Responsible, Reliable, Rooted in facts, Remarkable
• Time-based – and Timely, Tangible, Thoughtful

Coaching Moments:

1. What one thing do you most want to accomplish in the next 90 days?
2. What are ways you can turn that want into a SMART goal?
3. Why is the "T" (Tangible or Time-Related) so important?
4. What first step toward a SMART goal are you willing to take right now?