Any good personal development plan will involve learning how to set goals. Did you set some smart goals this year? No, I mean SMART goals – yes, there is a difference! Anyone can set goals that seem “smart” at the time – they are well thought out and considered, or they are the same goals that the person has set before but not accomplished yet. Like the person who just reuses the same “New Year’s Resolutions” list year after year, with just changing the year at the top – those kinds of goals are never achieved.
Only SMART goals follow the SMART plan. Confused? Let’s fix that. SMART is an acronym to help one set goals. SMART helps goal setting be effective and productive. Let’s take a good look at the SMART acronym.
S – Specific
Goals, to be effective, must be specific. A wishy-washy goal of “I want to lose weight” will get you nowhere! So tomorrow, when you step on the scales, if you’ve gone down two ounces, the goal is accomplished, right? Let’s hope not! What happens after lunch, when the scale shows at least those two ounces back in your body?
“I will be friendlier” means little unless accompanied by more information – “I will have ten new friends that I talk to on a weekly basis by the end of the year” is much stronger. SMART goal setting means that your goals are specific.
M – Measurable
Your goals need to be measurable. To use our weight loss example again, how much do you want to lose? And by when? How will you know when the goal is reached? By scale weight? Or by tape measured inches? These specifics should be included when setting SMART goals.
A – Achievable
Setting goals the SMART way means that your goals are achievable. It’s all well and good to want some tremendous, fabulous, goal, but it needs to be something you can actually achieve. While you might want to lose 20 pounds this month, it really isn’t realistic – or even healthy. Take a look at the limits of your time and your health when you do your SMART goal setting, and have your goals be Achievable.
R – Realistic
SMART goal setting includes having your goals be realistic. Your goals need to be something that you are willing and able to work towards. While losing ten pounds a month might be achievable, it may also take more work than you are willing to commit. You need to be realistic about what you want and what you are able to do when you set your goals.
T – Timely
Goals that are set the SMART way are timely. This means that there is a deadline to them. Goals need to be a closed-end process, so that there is a time when you can say, “Yes, that goal is achieved.” Then you can move on to your next SMART goal for that aspect in your life.
