What are SMART goals?

Every year, many work teams set goals for the coming year, and leadership teams determine their goals for their organizations. During the goal and objective setting process, the term SMART goal is often used without much thought about what it can mean as a general work plan. SMART goals are a way to not only decide what to do, but how to do it in a way that can be easily tracked to determine whether or not progress is being made and when goals are being met. In this type of goal, the acronym in SMART stands for: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-based.

Specific describes the details of what needs to be accomplished in a clear and simple way. The objective must be easy to understand and well defined for its achievement to be possible. Unclear goals are easily misinterpreted and therefore generally do not achieve the desired results. Being specific answers the question of what needs to be done so that appropriate action can be taken.

Measurable uses quantifiable terms to compare where the goal is to achieve the desired goal. Establishing performance criteria to measure the goal will allow for changes during the goal period in order to manage the process and stay on track to reach the goal. Using a defined tracking method shows how much will be gained by achieving the goal and encourages continuous improvement.

Reachable It means that the goal is within the capacity and ability of those involved while expanding their collective talents to achieve the most desirable goal. It means that the defined objective is possible and realistic, while still being a challenge for the organization and its people. Having a goal that stretches people and allows for growth opportunities often leads to very valuable business results.

Relevant indicates that the goal is not only within skill levels but also has meaning and is directly related to the purpose or vision of those who are responsible for achieving the goal. Relevance means that everyone involved can understand how they influence the goal and how it affects them. When a goal is relevant to those involved, it increases commitment and makes reaching the goal a highly motivating tool.

Time based defines a period to meet the goal measurements or a deadline to achieve the overall goal. Having a set time frame allows for a frequency to monitor progress, stay on track, make adjustments to meet the overall goal, and gain momentum with each achievement along the goal path. Without a time-based element for the goal, it will be impossible to make a specific plan.

Use the acronym SMART to set goals that are: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based. SMART goals can be used as an effective way to decide what to do next year and where to make changes if your goals are not progressing as desired. During the annual goal or objective setting process, be sure to use the SMART goal setting when working on a plan for the future of a team or organization.