Have you ever aspired to something great but felt lost before starting? Perhaps you've set goals before, only to see them fade amidst the daily grind.
What if I tell you there is a solution that doesn't involve a magic lamp or exorbitant amounts of money? The SMART goals method is a powerful framework designed to transform your aspirations into actionable steps.
SMART goals are a framework for setting effective goals that increase your chances of achieving them. SMART is an acronym that stands for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based.
The SMART goal strategy is a practical five-step process for any goal, whether personal or professional. The best part? The only things you’ll need are your imagination and some pen and paper.
If you need a little extra support on your goal-setting journey, many OKR (Objectives and Key Results) solutions are available to streamline your process. These tools can help you define your goals, track progress, and collaborate with others.
SMART goals are simply a new twist on an old habit. There’s nothing new about setting a personal goal or challenge for yourself, but there are better ways to make those goals a reality.
To be considered SMART, a goal must include the five SMART criteria: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. George T. Doran first conceptualized this method in 1981, and it has been a popular goal-setting method ever since.
A SMART goal uses these five different benchmarks to ensure your goals are set up for success.
The SMART methodology can be used for any goal you set. Whether you’re hoping to lose 20 pounds in the next year or you’re looking to get promoted at work, SMART goals can help you achieve your goals.
They provide an action plan for achieving your goals. When you use SMART goals, you step beyond daydreaming and move toward making your goals a reality.
As we mentioned above, SMART stands for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based. Each part of a SMART goal requires a different perspective and strategy, which is why you should familiarize yourself with each of them.
The first step in setting a SMART goal is making it specific. When you set a specific goal, it’s easier to measure your progress and reach it.
Setting specific goals keeps your mind focused on where you’re going and how you’re going to get there. It keeps you accountable and prevents you from moving the goalpost on yourself.
The trick is making your goal specific enough that you’ll succeed but not so specific that it’s inflexible. Striking that balance can be tricky, but with enough practice, you’ll be able to set goals that matter.
The second step in creating a SMART goal is making it measurable. A measurable goal has clear benchmarks for success. Running a marathon is a measurable goal because, at the end of the day, you either run a marathon or you don’t.
This step is also important because success varies from person to person. You need to define what success looks like to you and then create the criteria for measuring that success.
Your goal needs to be attainable for it to be SMART. This might be the most important step in the entire process.
Whether or not your goal is realistic is the lynchpin for the entire process. You can set the goal to fly to the moon and map out the benchmarks for success, but it is of no use to you unless you can actually achieve it.
If you reach this step and find your goal isn’t attainable, don’t panic. Instead, focus on the parts of your goal that you can accomplish and refocus from there. There’s almost always a good idea buried in an unrealistic goal—it’s all about perspective.
The fourth step to planning SMART goals is making sure your goal is relevant. You might set a goal that is specific, measurable, and attainable, but is it helping you achieve your overall life plans? It might be harder to achieve something if the goal you’re setting isn’t working in line with the other things you’re working toward.
Goals that work together harmoniously with the rest of your life have a higher chance of success. It’s also important to remember that just because a goal isn’t relevant now, it won’t be relevant later. The relevance of your goal depends entirely on timing.
The last part of planning a SMART goal is making sure your goal is time-based. A time-based goal is simply a goal that has a deadline.
Setting a target date for your goals is an easy hack for success. It helps create a sense of urgency that will keep you motivated and ensure the goals you’re working towards have a finish line in sight.
Another reason this step works is that it gives you perspective on how you’re progressing with your goals. If you say you’re going to accomplish something in a year, you can break your larger goal into smaller checkpoints every month. This gives you an idea of whether you’re on track or not and can be crucial for refocusing your goals.
Using the SMART method successfully is all about keeping a detailed record of your action plan. As the study above shows, writing down your goals increases your likelihood of success. That’s why we’ve put together a template that you can download and use for any of your goals.
You’ll want to start with your goal and drill down from there. Use the SMART template to fine-tune your process. Include any thoughts, obstacles, and notes you have within the worksheet.
The more planning you do ahead of time, the easier it will be to carve out your path to success.
We’ve talked about how to set SMART goals and why setting goals is important; now, it’s time to examine a real-life use case.
For this section, we’re going to use a common workplace goal, getting promoted at work, as our example. This goal in itself is pretty vague, but using each of the five SMART method steps, we’re going to take this goal from mediocre to a truly achievable goal.
Instead of saying you want to get promoted, be more specific about what kind of promotion you’re hoping for. What job title are you targeting? Do you expect a pay raise with this promotion? What job duties are you hoping to get along with this promotion? This is much more helpful in your goal setting than simply saying you want to get promoted.
The trick with measurable goals is deciding on your version of success ahead of time. How much of a pay increase did you want? Did you get the full amount you wanted?
Let’s say you get the title change and the pay increase but not the additional job responsibilities. Is that still considered a success in your eyes? You should think about that when setting your goal.
External factors will always exist when setting goals. Ensuring your goal is attainable will help smooth bumps along the road. Are you in a position to be promoted? Has management laid out parameters for promotions? What kind of blockers are in your way?
Before you even begin vying for the promotion, you should check if it’s possible. Just because a goal isn’t attainable now doesn’t mean it’s not attainable later. There’s no shame in readjusting your objectives.
Sometimes your goals are possible, but they aren’t relevant. Will getting a promotion support other goals in your life, both personal and professional? Will you use this promotion to help yourself and those around you?
You could have every argument to get your promotion, and you might still get roadblocked along the way because the goal isn’t relevant. The relevance of a goal isn’t just dependent on you; it’s dependent on others as well.
For example, maybe you want a promotion at work, but does the company need another manager? Ensure that your goals work within the larger structure you're involved with for maximum chance of success.
A goal without a deadline is like a marathon without a finish line. Don’t leave your goals open-ended; give yourself a timeframe to complete them.
Do you want to be promoted within the next six months or the next year? Are you willing to leave your current job to reach this goal? Creating a sense of urgency with a time limit will keep you from slacking and push you toward success.
See how using the SMART methodology transformed the original goal? The new goal is much clearer and easier to visualize than saying you just want a promotion. Now that the goal is smarter, you can create a strategy toward accomplishing it.
There are plenty of methods for setting goals. What makes the SMART method popular is that it works. Many people have found success using SMART in their personal and professional lives.
Here are a few advantages of using the SMART method:
This method only works so long as you stick to it. You can create the most detailed goal in the world and that won’t mean anything if you don’t work for it. Be sure to commit to using SMART from beginning to end.
There are a few drawbacks to using the SMART method for setting goals. While this method gives you a clear framework, it can lead to some stumbling blocks if used incorrectly. It’s also important to know that not every goal works effectively in the SMART framework.
Here are a few disadvantages of using the SMART method:
An easy way to combat these drawbacks is to use SMART with a bit of flexibility. Don’t be afraid to change your strategy. You can borrow certain aspects of SMART and change the ones that don’t suit your goal. If you find that one part of your goal is too rigid, switch it up and make it work for you!
Once you decide on your goals, it’s time to get to work! Accomplishing your goals is an art. You’ll need the right tools for success. Everyone works differently, which means different strategies work for different people. Choose any number of the following tips to make your dreams a reality.
There’s a psychology behind writing down your goals. A Harvard Business Study found that the 3% of MBA candidates who wrote down their goals ended up earning ten times more than the other 97% put together ten years after graduation.
Putting your goals into writing helps cement them. It also serves as an important reminder of what you’re working toward when you start to feel unmotivated.
Dreaming big is the key to success. The more ambitious your goals are, the more likely you are to pursue them with everything you’ve got. When you think big, even a failure can be a success in its own way. If you set out to run a marathon and can only manage a half marathon, you still run a half marathon.
"I tend to dream big, which leaves me with seemingly lofty goals at times, but it's all about how you set yourself up for success."
Bridget Poetker
Former Content Marketing Lead, G2
Telling your friends about your goals is one of the easiest ways to stay accountable. Think of it as holding yourself to your goals. When you let others know what you’re working toward, you’ll feel obligated to follow through. Talking about your goals on social media can work just as well.
It can be intimidating to look at your overall goal without an action plan to accomplish it. That’s why breaking your larger goal down into smaller sections works. This helps prevent goal burnout and can keep you focused on achieving success. It also helps you track your progress along the way!
"I find that a big task becomes a lot more approachable if I break it down in a simple, measurable list and then assign a deadline to each item."
Cristina Maria
Senior Content Manager, Sona
You’re never going to accomplish a goal if you’re not dedicated to the outcome. Don’t set goals because you think it’s something people expect you to do. Set the goals for yourself that matter most to your growth. It doesn’t matter how big or small a goal is, as long as you’re doing it to make yourself stronger.
The gig economy and hustle culture can make it seem like taking a break means you’re falling behind, but that’s not the case. Sometimes the best thing you can do is give yourself a moment just to relax. Take a break, recharge your batteries, and then get back in the game.
"Instead of sitting there and trying to power through a day where you're not on your game, know that it's okay to take a step back and return when you're ready."
Mara Calvello
Content Marketing Manager, G2
Things become much more complicated when the success of your goal hinges on another person. You could work your tail off for a promotion, but the ultimate decision is in another person's hands. To maximize your chances of success, set as many goals are possible that are solely your responsibility.
If you decide to set a goal that depends on another person, remember that you're only responsible for your part in it. Don't get discouraged; focus on what you can control. This will help you stay focused when external factors come into play.
There will inevitably be a moment in your life when you work hard toward your goals and fall a little short. Even a SMART goal can be unattainable at times. The real measure of success is how you recover after you stumble. Here are some tips for recovering after you fail.
The only way to learn from your failure is to pinpoint why you didn’t succeed. Sit down with a piece of paper and write down the roadblocks you encountered during your attempt. Once you’ve done that, you can brainstorm different ways to overcome them the next time you try.
There’s a very slim chance that your attempt was a complete failure. After you pinpoint what went wrong, make a similar list about what worked. This is important because it gives you the framework for your next attempt. Once you know what works for you, you can spend your time fine-tuning the process.
Success isn’t a straight line. It’s not about finding the right solution the first time. The journey is just as important as the destination. If you find yourself confronting your failure, put a positive spin on your situation and dust yourself off.
It can be tempting to wallow in self-pity after failure. You can take some time to feel bad for yourself but then bounce back. Your attitude can make or break your success. Focus on the positive experiences and learn from what happened.
Congratulations, you’re ready to hit your target! SMART goals are the foundation of a well-planned victory. You have all the tools you need to plan and execute your dreams.
What are you waiting for? Get out there and show them what you’re made of.
Implement SMART goals for performance management and build a system that drives individual and organizational success.
This article was originally published in 2020. It has been updated with new information.
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