SMART Objectives | Going Beyond SMART
>>Sign Up for a FREE Ultimate Goal Setting e-Course by Clicking Here Today. SMART objectives (also known as SMART goals) are the predominant theory in goal setting these days. So much so that the term “SMART goals” is searched for 25% more on Google according to their keyword tool. Which is too bad. SMART objectives provide a good framework for goals, but there is so much more to goals and goal setting than simply setting SMART objectives. I am going to quickly break down how SMART objectives work, and then I will provide you with some alternative aspects to goal setting that should also be considered the next time you sit down to put together your goals. WHAT ARE SMART OBJECTIVES? The acronym SMART has been around in general use since the early 1980’s when it was first cited by George T. Doran in Management Review. There are various definitions of what the SMART objectives consist of, but the most common one is as follows: S – SPECIFIC. Your goal or objective should be as specific as possible as to not leave any guesswork. M – MEASURABLE. You should be able to measure your goal quantifiably. A – ATTAINABLE. Your goal should be realistic and attainable based on your current or future abilities. R – RELEVANT. The goal should be worthwhile to you. It should be worth the effort required. T – TIME-BOUND. Your goal should have a closed-ended time-frame. SMART objectives is a good introduction to goal setting, but there is so much more if you are serious about using goal setting to achieve the big, awesome stuff you want to accomplish. THE PROBLEMS WITH SMART OBJECTIVES Phrasing. There are some subtle tricks that you can play with the actual phrasing of your goals that can make a difference on whether or not you achieve all of your goals. Most people phrase their SMART objectives in the following manner… >>Sign Up for a FREE Ultimate Goal Setting e-Course by Clicking Here Today. “I want to…” “I’m going to …” “One day I’m going to…” The problem with these goals is that they talk about the future. Not about what you are doing right now, at this very minute to achieve your goals. Instead change the tone of your goals and objectives to… “I choose to…”
It’s a simple turn-of-phrase, but you will find that it works wonders. Planning. Once you write out your goals according to the SMART objectives, you are left standing there with a shiny goal, but no idea of where to go from there. Some might argue that goal planning and goal setting are separate entitities, but I will argue them until I am blue in the face. They are so interlinked that it is foolish to believe that they can co-exist without one another. Effective goal setting requires planning, and planning requires having a powerful goal to drive the plan. There are so many factors to consider when planning your goals, and I am not going to go into all of them here, but the most significant component is to be prepared for failure. You know things aren’t going to go perfectly. No matter how wonderful our goals, how extensive our plans to achieve them, life will come around and find a way to mess it up. The key is in being prepared for these setbacks, roadblocks and curveballs. How do you be prepared for something you don’t see coming? By adopting a policy of flexibility and commitment to see your goals through, regardless if you have to scrap your goal plan andrewrite a new one. Your goals and objectives should mean that much to you. Purpose. Without purpose we don’t have motivation, and without motivation, you have a shell of a goal. I have worked for a few companies in the past that mistook what they perceived as purpose for their employees. Sure, SMART objectives talk about relevance, but relevance isn’t enough to stay motivated over the long term. Your goals should instill a powerful sense of drive and purpose. How do we do this? There are several ways, but one that I have found that works consistently is making the goal bigger then the individual involved. For example, being wealthy is a common goal. Perhaps one of the motivations or benefits of achieving this goal would be to start a foundation, or give a certain amount to a charitable organization on an annual basis. Make the goals bigger than your own selfsatisfaction and you will achieve true purpose. Play it Safe. SMART goals place a large reliance on making your goals realistic. For some people this is a simple guideline, for others it’s a strident rule. Your goals and objectives should be lofty as hell, they shouldn’t be so grounded in reality that they bring little reward when you easily achieve them. Personal reward comes in being challenged and overcoming, not in setting easy goals and crushing them. The moment you stop challenging yourself is the moment you stop growing. Ready to go beyond SMART objectives? Sign up for Ultimate Goal Setting (for FREE) below and I will show you how to take those SMART objectives and make them powerful goals you can’t help but accomplish. >>Sign Up for a FREE Ultimate Goal Setting e-Course by Clicking Here Today.