Have you ever felt annoyed due to the fact you couldn’t achieve a aim? This is extra not unusual than you might think. If you don’t realize a way to put your goals into exercise, it is going to be tough to place them into practice.
SMART goals can help with this, as they are a way of creating an action plan with achievable objectives. The acronym “SMART” is the abbreviation for all the criteria that give meaning to the technique.
Discover in this article the importance of all the characteristics of the methodology: understand what each letter represents and how you can use them to achieve your results.
S: specific
The more specific your goal is, the more realistic it becomes. You need to understand where you want to go and what you want to achieve. In other words, your goal must be direct and straightforward. Otherwise, how will you know when you have achieved your goal?
When you name your target, you can plan the right actions to achieve it. So, forget about subjective ideas. You need to analyze what you really want to achieve.
For example, if you want to be successful in your career, the word “success” represents something to you. Maybe it means working in a field you enjoy or being recognized professionally.
Therefore, the first step of SMART goals is to understand what you want to define which actions will be essential in this process.
M: measurable
There is no point in creating a plan if you can’t follow through on it. You need to estimate your goal to determine what the signals will be for your goal. Creating evidence will clarify what you intend to achieve.
Following the previous example, if your goal is to work in the area you like, measuring it means defining the scope it represents. By setting a scale to achieve this goal, you will identify what is missing to achieve it.
Use this feature to determine how you will perceive that your goal has been achieved. For example, a personal marketing strategy can be measured by the number of followers gained on a social network.
A: attainable
The conditions for achieving your goal need to be realistic. Therefore, there is no point in creating goals that go beyond stages.
For example, working in the field of Law identifies your objective, but it does not yet clarify whether the goal is possible to achieve. After all, there are several stages to be overcome on this journey.
It would be unfeasible to try to become a judge before graduating, don’t you agree? Therefore, it is essential to set a solid and achievable goal for your current situation.
It’s not wrong to set high goals, but some people set their goals too high and then get frustrated because they can’t reach them.
A: relevant
The goal needs to have meaning and bring relevance to your life, otherwise, your energy will run out at the first obstacle. It is essential to define the magnitude that this result represents for you, as you will need this to remain engaged and motivated.
If your goal was to work as a lawyer, understanding the relevance of this is essential for SMART goals. This importance should be clear. For example, working as a lawyer to:
- claim people’s rights;
- be knowledgeable of the law;
- defend good citizens, among others.
T: time based (temporal)
If you don’t set a deadline for achieving your goal, you may get lost along the way. Procrastination is the biggest enemy of an action plan. SMART goals are also excellent in this regard, as they increase focus by defining the delivery period.
Don’t set deadlines that are too short, otherwise you may become stressed when you realize that you won’t be able to achieve your goal within the stipulated period. Likewise, don’t set deadlines that are too long, as you may postpone actions when you feel comfortable with the time.
Knowing the ideal period is essential to establish realistic dates that encourage you in this process. An example would be:
5 steps to apply SMART goals
Once you’re clear about what you want, it’s time to put your plan into action. SMART goals use a series of questions to help you achieve your goal.
Each stage will correspond to a characteristic. To make it easier, create a spreadsheet and, for each term, create a column with the questions and answers.
1. Specify the goal
First, you need to better understand what you want to achieve. Use questions that will help you find these answers, such as:
- Why is it important?
- How will it be carried out?
- How will you win her over?
2. Measure the reach
Define indicators that prove that you have achieved your goal. Some questions can help you determine these signs, for example:
- What result do you expect?
- How can you measure this reach?
- How will you already know that your goal has been achieved?
3. Find out the feasibility
In the third step, it’s time to validate your goal. Discard unrealistic dreams and create concrete targets. Score the resources and efforts that will be needed. To do this, consider some questions:
- Does the goal seem achievable?
- Do you believe you can achieve it?
- Do you have the necessary structure to achieve it?
4. Define the importance
Now is the time to understand how important the goal is to you. Find out what motivates you to achieve it. Some questions can help, such as:
- Is the goal a priority?
- How does this impact your life?
- How will you feel when you win her over?
- Why should it be achieved?
5. Set a deadline
Finally, the last step of SMART goals is to set a deadline for all of this. But remember that timing is essential in this process? The following questions can help you determine this period:
- How much time do you need?
- Is it possible to achieve the goal within the stipulated period?
- Is the deadline realistic and flexible?
Setting goals is an important step in building any career. However, if there is no strategy, that list of dreams can end up lost somewhere. SMART goals are an essential method for organizing this journey and achieving the desired results.
Once you set an important, realistic goal with clear evidence, it becomes easier to create a schedule of tasks and manage the actions needed to achieve your goal. So, having smart goals is the first step to achieving your dreams.