The S.M.A.R.T. acronym provides a certain methodology to develop meaningful goals.

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "The S.M.A.R.T. acronym provides a certain methodology to develop meaningful goals."

Darren Terence O’Connor’
7 years ago
Views:

1 Gal Setting A gal is a cncrete actin, event r utcme that yu strive t btain. Gals enrich ur lives, give us energy, create a sense f purpse and give us a "rad map." "If yu dn t knw where yu are ging, yu will prbably end up smewhere else." - Laurence J. Peter Creating S.M.A.R.T. Gals The S.M.A.R.T. acrnym prvides a certain methdlgy t develp meaningful gals. Specific Measurable Attainable Realistic Timed Write yur gal/idea as detailed as pssible. Identify quantitative targets fr tracking yur prgress & results. Make certain that it is pssible t achieve the desired result. Acknwledge practical requirements necessary t accmplish the gal. Build in specific deadlines. Specific: A specific gal has a much greater chance f being accmplished than a general gal. A specific gal will usually answer the six W questins: Wh: Wh is invlved? What: What d I want t accmplish? Where: Where will this happen. Identify a lcatin. When: When will this happen? Establish a time frame. Which: Which requirements and cnstraints will be part f the prcess? Identify them. Why: Why am I setting this gal? Jt dwn the specific reasns, purpse r benefits f accmplishing the gal. EXAMPLE: A general gal wuld be, Imprve prject management skills. But a specific gal wuld say, Take the Prject Management Essentials wrkshp n , reprt what was learned t my team by and apply the relevant cncepts while implementing my 2017 marketing plan.

2 Measurable: Establish cncrete criteria fr measuring prgress tward the attainment f each gal yu set. When yu measure yur prgress, yu stay n track, reach yur target dates, and experience the exhilaratin f achievement that spurs yu n t cntinued effrt required t reach yur gal. T determine if yur gal is measurable, ask questins such as: Hw much? Hw many? Hw will I knw when it is accmplished? Attainable: Set realistic gals. Based n the present restrictins such as yur schedule, wrklad, and knwledge, d yu believe yu can attain the bjective yu set? If nt, then set a different gal, ne that is attainable fr yu in the present. As yurself the fllwing questins: Will I be able t d this? Am I prepared t make the cmmitment t reach my target? Is there a mre achievable target I am willing t wrk fr? Realistic: T be realistic, a gal must represent an bjective tward which yu are bth willing and able t wrk. A gal can be bth high and realistic; yu are the nly ne wh can decide just hw high yur gal shuld be. But be sure that every gal represents substantial prgress. A realistic gal can answer yes t these questins: Des this seem wrthwhile? Is this the right time? Des this match ther effrts/needs? Timed: A gal shuld have a timeframe a deadline r date fr cmpletin. Setting a deadline reinfrces the seriusness f the gal in yur mind. It mtivates yu t take actin. When yu dn t set a timeline, there is n internal pressure t accmplish the gal, s it gets put n the back burner.

3 Within yur established timeframe, ask yurself: What can I d tday t reach my gal? What can I d 3 weeks frm nw t reach my gal? What can I d 3 mnths frm nw t reach my gal? Tips n Setting Gals ALWAYS write dwn yur gals. Why? Because the likelihd f yu achieving yur gals is significantly enhanced when yu take the simple actin f writing them dwn. Take time ut t think thrugh what it is yu really want. It's almst impssible t generate new thinking when yu are surrunded by the familiar. Break away frm yur usual envirnment. G fr a walk, sit n a park bench, g smewhere yu have never been befre. Writing gals is a very imprtant activity s see it that way and make time and a place fr it. Be clear abut what it is yu truly want.

4 The S. in the S.M.A.R.T acrnym stands fr being specific - knwing what it is yu want and specifying it as clearly as yu can. Be as specific as yu can. Think abut hw yu will knw when yu have achieved yur gal. In ther wrds, what will yu see? What will yu hear? Hw will yu feel? Determine WHY yu want it. Why? Because when yu are really clear n the reasns behind yur gal, yur reasns mtivate yu and prvide yu with the necessary fuel t achieve yur gal. Brainstrm yur measurables and keep brainstrming them as necessary all alng the way. When yu define the measurables in yur smart gal, brainstrm as many measures as pssible. Once yu have yur list priritize them. Achieving yur gal is a prcess. Yu never knw where yur path might lead s review what is happening and at all pints be prepared t brainstrm new pathways. Sample Gals Let s lk at sme examples: General gal - Be mre receptive t caching suggestins and feedback. SMART gal - At my mnthly prgress meetings, ask fr feedback n what I am ding well and what things t imprve. Keep a ntebk with this infrmatin, try ut the suggestins and dcument each week what wrked and what didn t. General gal Imprve Custmer Service Skills. SMART gal Decrease the time t respnd t custmer queries by 3 minutes by the end f this quarter. Decrease time t reslve custmer issues frm 2 hurs t 1.5 hurs by July.

5 General gal Increase attendance at Annual Cnference. SMART gal Increase the attendance f the Annual Cnference by 100 guests by speaking t the guest via telephne and writing t them all by . All cmmunicatin shuld happen 3 weeks befre the event. Gal Setting Resurces Actin Verbs Quintessential Careers Gal Setting Article

Project Management Fact Sheet:

Project Management Fact Sheet: Prject Fact Sheet: Managing Small Prjects Versin: 1.2, Nvember 2008 DISCLAIMER This material has been prepared fr use by Tasmanian Gvernment agencies and Instrumentalities. It fllws that this material