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Do you sometimes feel like you’re going around in circles when you need to finish a task? Do you keep asking yourself questions like “Why am I doing this?” or “What will I achieve?”
Don’t worry, it’s quite normal. This is most likely the result of having no specific goal. Goal setting is important if you want to avoid self-doubt and confusion in your day-to-day life. When you have set your goals, you can begin each task with an objective and be satisfied with your result. SMART goals are used to guide and motivate goal settings. So, what are SMART goals and how do we set them?
What Are SMART Goals?
SMART is an acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely. To set SMART goals, you must learn the objectives behind each element. Why should one try SMART goal setting?
What’s the first thing you do when you set goals? You may find yourself making vague resolutions and getting lost in the process.
SMART goal setting helps you chart out a path to meet your objective. It helps you establish milestones and estimate the feasibility of your goal. The SMART framework brings you closer to reality and helps you identify your potential. After all, what are SMART goals without direction, self-awareness, and discipline?
Here’s How To Set SMART Goals:
Read on to understand each element of SMART goals and why they are important.
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Specific
The first step of the SMART goal setting is asking yourself what exactly you want to achieve. The more specific your goals are, the better are your chances of achieving them.
Aiming to save one-fourth of your salary each month or to score 90% in your examples are specific SMART goals examples.
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Measurable
SMART goals must have measurable elements like checkpoints or milestones. Tracking your progress in a tangible way will help you stay clear on your progress and make it easier for you to reach your SMART goals. Knowing how far you’ve come will boost your confidence and motivate you to reach your goal.
Timing your run or tracking your screen time are some measurable goal setting examples.
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Achievable
SMART goals should be achievable and attainable. One can’t shoot for the stars without understanding the on-ground reality SMART goal setting means setting challenging but not impossible goals. Make sure your goals are realistic and can be attained within the time frame you have chosen.
Achievable SMART goals examples include getting a promotion or learning a new technical skill.
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Relevant
A good way of SMART goal setting is to make your goal relevant. Many people like to dream of doing wonderful things. But it is important to connect one’s goals to what one is currently doing and where one wishes to go. . This is what makes a goal different from a dream.
Relevant SMART goals examples include applying for promotion after performing well or pursuing a PhD in Gender Studies after a Social Sciences degree.
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Timely
What are SMART goals without timelines? SMART goals are better with start and stop dates. SMART goal setting includes establishing time frames for the overall goal as well as any milestones. This will help you stay focused and keep procrastination at bay.
An example of a timely goal is training to run for a marathon in a year.
Harappa Education’s Leading Self course will guide you on the path to becoming the best possible version of yourself. The Performance Equation framework in the course will help you identify the reasons behind the gaps in your performance. It will also help you realize your untapped potential.
SMART Goals Examples For Work
You may be wondering, what are SMART goals doing in a corporate world? You’ll be surprised to learn that SMART goal setting is one of the most effective tools businesses use to flourish.
Here are some SMART goal examples in work settings:
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Group Goals:
Getting everybody on the same page through training programs, meetings, and group emails are great SMART goals examples for team-building at the workplace.
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Making Goals Public:
Making the organization’s goals public is an effective way to drive alignment in your business. Such goal setting examples also help increase motivation.
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Smart Schedules:
Creating schedules to keep teams on track and setting timelines, are useful SMART goals examples for work environments. Organizations and teams that have a heavy workload and performance pressure benefit from smart schedules.
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Define Success:
Conveying the organization’s definition of ‘success’ through SMART goals is a great way of communicating expectations to its stakeholders.
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Feedback Loops:
Collecting and giving feedback are excellent goal setting examples. Besides being effective tools of communication, they hold employees accountable. It also promotes workplace culture.
Conclusion
SMART goal setting helps you take ownership of yourself. SMART goals are easier to achieve as they are well-planned and clear. Even when you hit a roadblock, you won’t be disheartened when you have a SMART goal. You will be able to adjust the different elements of your goal and continue working towards it.
Explore topics such as Career Development, Types of Goals & the Fear of Failure from our Harappa Diaries section and lead on a path of self-development.
