SMART is an acronym that refers to strategic planning aimed at implementing effective objectives. It indicates the five characteristics that a goal should have: Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Relevant and Timed. It is one of the most common and useful techniques for setting concrete and feasible goals, whether you run a company of 300 employees, whether you have a small company or want to lose 10 kg. Whatever your case, learning how to set SMART goals can increase your chances of being successful.
Steps
Part 1 of 5: Have a Specific Goal (S)
Step 1. Define what you want
When trying to determine a goal, the first step is to consider what you are hoping to achieve. At this stage, it is not a problem to have vague ideas.
- It doesn't matter if the goal is long-term or short-term, it's generally normal to start with a vague idea of what you want. How to go from a generic goal to a focused one? We need to add details and define the conditions.
- For example, your initial goal may be to become healthier. Being aware of this allows you to lay the foundations to establish a focused goal.
Step 2. Define your goal specifically
The S in the SMART acronym represents the adjective "specific". You are much more likely to succeed with a defined goal than with a generic one. So, at this point, your job is to translate the thoughts you worked out in the first step into something more concrete.
In particular, it is essential to define the conditions. Taking up the example of the first step, you should ask yourself what, in your opinion, the expression "becoming healthier" means. Does it mean doing more physical activity? Lose weight? Follow a balanced diet? These are all relevant to your goal, so it's up to you to decide what actions you actually want to take
Step 3. Determine if other people will be involved
To better specify a goal, it is helpful to answer six questions. Who? What? When? Where is it? Which? Because? First, try to figure out if anyone else will participate in the project.
If your goal is to lose weight, you are the only one involved, while there are goals that involve collaboration with other people
Step 4. Ask yourself what you want to achieve
It is the main question to understand what goal you hope to achieve.
If you have decided to lose weight, then you have already answered the question "What?", But you need to be even more specific. How Much Weight Do You Hope To Lose?
Step 5. Determine where you will do this project
Find a place where you will work to cross the finish line.
If you want to lose weight, you could do physical activity at work (such as a walk at lunchtime), at home (do a workout using body weight or dumbbells), or at the gym
Step 6. Think about when this will happen
Set a realistic timeframe or deadline for reaching your goal. This information will progressively become more defined during the project planning process. For now, think about an approximate date.
If you are aiming to lose 10 kg, you may be able to achieve it in a matter of months. On the other hand, if you are aiming for a major in physics, a reasonable time frame is a few years
Step 7. Establish the requirements and impediments that will accompany the process
In other words, what will you need to achieve your goal? What obstacles will you face?
If your goal is to lose weight, exercise and healthy eating are the requirements. Obstacles could include your innate aversion to sports or an overwhelming urge to eat unhealthy foods
Step 8. Reflect on why you have decided to take this path
Write down the specific reasons and benefits associated with achieving this goal. Understanding why can be key to finding out if the goal you set for yourself will actually fulfill your desires.
For example, imagine your goal is to lose 20 kg. Think about why you want to do this and try to figure out if you want to because you hope to become more popular. If your real goal is popularity, not your health, you can consider other ways to advance towards that goal. For example, you might try to be more social, not just focusing on your physical appearance
Part 2 of 5: Having a Measurable Goal (M)
Step 1. Establish a criterion for measuring results
At this point, your job is to define the parameters for evaluating the progress made. It will therefore be easier to analyze how the process continues and understand when you have reached your goal.
- Your criteria can be quantitative (based on numbers) or descriptive (based on the description of a certain result).
- If possible, include concrete numbers in your goals. This way, you will know without a doubt if you are left behind or if you are on the right path.
- For example, if you aspire to lose weight, you could make your goal quantitative by stating that you want to lose 15 kg. By weighing yourself regularly, it will be easy to determine when you have achieved your goal. A descriptive version of this meta? "I want to be able to wear that pair of jeans I used to wear five years ago." Either way, your goal will be measurable.
Step 2. Ask targeted questions to refine the goal
There are questions you can ask yourself to make sure the purpose is as quantifiable as possible. Here are some of them:
- How many? For example, "How much weight do I hope to lose?".
- How many times? For example, "How many times a week do I have to go to the gym?".
- "How will I know when I have reached the goal?". Will you be successful when you weigh yourself and see that you have lost 15 kg? Or 20?
Step 3. Track your progress and measure it
Having quantifiable goals makes it easier for you to understand if you are making progress.
- For example, if your ultimate goal is to lose 10 kg and at some point you realize you have lost 8, you know that it is close. On the other hand, if you only lost 500g after a month, this may indicate that it is time to change your strategy.
- Keep a diary. It is a great way to record the efforts made, the results seen and the moods associated with the process. Make a commitment to write for about 15 minutes a day. This can help you keep a good perspective and can also reduce the stress generated by all the work you are doing.
Part 3 of 5: Having an Actionable Goal (A)
Step 1. Assess your limits
You have to make sure that the set goal can actually be achieved. Otherwise, you risk becoming disheartened.
- Consider the obstacles and obstacles identified, then consider whether you can overcome them. To achieve a goal, it is normal to face challenges. The point is to evaluate whether it would be reasonable to think of being able to overcome a goal despite these difficulties.
- Realistically evaluate the time you need to devote to your goals, but also examine your personal history, knowledge, and physical limitations. Think realistically about the purpose. If you don't believe you can reasonably achieve it given your current situation, determine a new feasible milestone in the present.
- For example, imagine your goal is to lose weight. If you can make a commitment to exercise regularly throughout the week and are willing to make dietary changes, losing 10kg in 6 months is doable. Losing 20 kg does not necessarily have to be, especially if there are obstacles that could prevent you from exercising constantly.
- As you make this assessment, it is helpful to write down any impediments you plan to face. This will help you develop a complete picture of the commitment you will face.
Step 2. Assess how committed you are
Although a goal is theoretically achievable, one must take responsibility for making all the efforts necessary to be successful. Ask yourself the following questions:
- Are you ready to make a commitment to reach your goal?
- Are you willing to radically change your life or at least change some aspects of it?
- If the answer is no, is there a more feasible goal that you are willing to commit to?
- Your goal and the commitment you are willing to put into it should coincide. At first, it can be easy to make a commitment to lose 10kg, but 20kg may seem like a less feasible milestone. Be honest with yourself about the changes you would actually like to make.
Step 3. Determine an actionable goal
Once you have considered the challenges you face and the commitment you are willing to make, modify the purpose according to your needs.
If you determine that the existing goal is feasible, you can take care of the next step. Instead, if you come to the conclusion that it's actually not reasonable, try to review it. This does not mean that you have to give it up entirely. It simply means that you have to fix it to fit reality
Part 4 of 5: Having a Relevant Goal (R)
Step 1. Reflect on your wishes
The reachability of a goal is closely related to its importance. The R of SMART stands for the factor of relevance. In this case, you need to consider whether the goal will be fulfilling from an individual point of view.
- At this time, you can review the question "Why?". Ask yourself if this goal really matches your wishes or if there is a different purpose that you think is more important to you.
- For example, imagine you have to decide which faculty to enroll in. You may be able to graduate in Physics from a large and prestigious university. It is undoubtedly a feasible goal. However, if you know that this degree program or the environment is not going to make you happy, you should try to review the purpose. Maybe the Faculty of Arts of a smaller university could do more for you.
Step 2. Consider your other goals and circumstances
It is equally important to assess whether this purpose fits into other life projects. If plans conflict, this can lead to problems.
- In other words, it's important to determine if your goal fits in with other projects in your life.
- For example, imagine your goal is to attend a prestigious university. At the same time, however, you also want to start taking over the reins of the family business before the age of 25. If the company is not located near the university, this will create a conflict. You need to reconsider one of these goals and make a decision.
Step 3. Edit your goals to make them relevant
If you determine that the purpose is important and that it blends well with the other plans, you can move on to the last stage. If not, you need to make other changes.
When in doubt, go for the option you are most passionate about. A goal you care deeply about will be more relevant and achievable than one that only vaguely cares about you. A purpose that allows you to fulfill your wishes will be much more motivating and profitable for you
Part 5 of 5: Having a Timed Goal (T)
Step 1. Establish a time horizon
This means that your goal should have a deadline or that you should set a specific date to accomplish it.
- Determining a time horizon helps you to identify and constantly implement specific actions, necessary to move towards the goal. This eliminates that feeling of confusion and uncertainty that sometimes accompanies planning a goal.
- If you don't set a deadline, you don't feel that internal pressure that spurs action, so often the goal can take a back seat.
Step 2. Try to have reference points to gradually approach the project
When you have a goal, especially a long-term one, it's helpful to break it down into stages. This can help you quantify your progress and make it manageable.
For example, if your goal is to lose 10kg in 5 months, you should set milestones of around 500g per week. This is less daunting and encourages you to make constant efforts, instead of putting superhuman effort into focusing your weight loss over the past 2 months. You can download an app that helps you measure your progress with nutrition and sports. This way, you make sure you do what you have to do in order to get closer to the finish line day after day. If you find that you can't cope with all of this, you can back down and revise the goal to make it more achievable
Step 3. Focus on the long and short term goal
Constantly working to fulfill your wishes means living in the present and, at the same time, looking to the future. Considering the time horizon you have established, you may be wondering:
- "What can I do today to reach my goal?". If you have a goal of losing 10 kg in 5 months, a daily goal may be to do 30 minutes of physical activity a day. Another might be to switch to healthier snacks, such as fresh and dried fruit, instead of potato chips.
- "What can I do in the next 3 weeks to achieve my goal?". If so, the answer may involve creating a detailed meal plan or training program.
- "What can I do in the long term to achieve my goal?". In this case, you need to work hard to maintain a healthy weight. You need to focus on forming habits that promote healthy eating and a long-term active lifestyle. For example, you might try joining a gym or joining a team.
Advice
- The path that will lead you to the final goal should have some intermediate stages. Every time you pass one, you can reward yourself. Small incentives can help keep you motivated.
- Try to make a list of people and resources needed to cross the finish line. This can help you define strategic steps that you will need to achieve the goal.
