S.M.A.R.T. Goals

Setting goals is essential to effective leadership. However, goals aren’t attained just by working hard, but by working S.M.A.R.T. (Simple, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely). Applying these simple points will help you track and verify significant progress and accomplish your goals with greater efficiency.

Simple

A goal should be easy to state and relay to others. For instance, you can say, “I want to write a book… I want to lose weight… I want my business to increase sales by 10% this year… Etc.” You should be able to clearly communicate what you want to do in a brief and concise statement. Goals are not ambiguous. They are clear and definable. Also, you must be able to distinguish the difference between goals and tasks. Manager types tend to make too big a deal of the insignificant. For example, creating a spreadsheet is not a goal; it is a subtask. Tasks (the micro) are items that you accomplish on your way to achieving goals (the macro). A goal is a result of a clear definable vision.

Measurable

Measurable goals involve identifying what you want to see when you reach them. The process also includes subdividing your goals into quantifiable evidence. Do your goals have methods? Are they traceable? Do your goals have systems for reporting movement? In order for a goal to be attained it must have a system of tracking. If you want to bench press 250 pounds, you may want to create a weekly chart of exercises completed and pounds lifted. This shows your verifiable progress. Goals are all about achieving tangible results. A system or structure of measurability will help you follow and prove your results. In fact, it will guarantee achieved results every time.

Attainable

Goals must be reachable and doable. You can set a lofty goal, but if you don’t have influence, experience, relationships, resources, etc. you won’t reach it. You may have a goal to be a millionaire in six months. This is easily stated but obviously not so easily attained. Unless you have a long-term history of wise financial choices and investments, it simply won’t happen. Start with a micro goal (i.e. work towards a savings account of $5000). Then once you save that amount, you can hire a mutual advisor to help you make smart and calculable investments that will bring a multiplied return by a realistic time period. If smaller goals are put in place, it will put the larger goal in sight.

Realistic

A close second to attainable goals is realistic goals. Some folks would love to own a Ferrari, but once they look at the price tag they shrink back. The bigger the goal, the harder the effort. In order to achieve a significant goal, you must be willing to deal with any adversity, hardship, pain, sacrifice, and rejection that comes along with it. You must also count the cost. Many high school basketball players dream of playing in the NBA. However, only 3 in 10,000 High school senior players are drafted by an NBA team, and only 1 in 75 NCAA players are drafted. You have to set realistic goals. Big goals aren’t accomplished in giant steps but by steadily inching forward realistically.

Timely

Setting a date and time helps hold you accountable to reach your goals. For instance, scheduling a project to be turned in by 4:00 PM on Friday afternoon provides clear expectations. Traveling to a destination requires a map, mileage, and an ETA. Also, important to setting time frames is that they must be enforced with a system of checks and balances: a commitment to confront or reward hit or missed timelines. Establishing solid time frames for goals is greatly beneficial for efficient time management. It helps to identify and eliminate time wasters. Disorganization and confusion within a team or organization can often be traced back to an uncertainty of completion dates.