What is SMART Goal Setting?

The method of SMART goals has been the basis for sound goal setting for a long time. It is one of the best used tools by high achievers to reach their goals realistically and consistently, giving them enough room to adjust for unforeseen circumstances.

Know that SMART is an acronym for the following acrostic:

Be Specific. Make your goal as specific as possible. If you set a goal to own your own home, be specific about it. What kind of house do you want, how big will it be, how many bedrooms, with a yard or no yard, and where do you want the new home? Answer the question Who, What, When, Where, Which and Why. The more specific a goal is, the more you can find ways of reaching your target.

Measurable. When setting goals, make sure you set a goal where you can measure progress. There is a difference between saying I want to lose weight and I want to lose 30 pounds. When you set a goal to lose 30 pounds, you can measure your progress as you decrease your weight from 30 pounds, down to 25, down to 20 and so on. This will help you see progress and motivate you to keep pushing forward.

Attainable. You want to set a goal that is attainable. Based on the present restrictions such as your schedule, workload, and knowledge, do you belief you can attain the objective you set? If not, then set a different goal, one that is attainable for you in the present.

Realistic. Set goals that are realistic. If you are 40 pounds overweight and haven't exercised in years, it'd be a pretty unrealistic goal to run a triathlon with 2 months of training. So set a goal you have a realistic chance of achieving.

Time-bound. All smart goals should be time-bound, meaning they should have a dead line or there should be a date for completion. Setting a deadline reinforces the seriousness of the goal in your mind. It motivates you to take action. When you don't set a time-line, there is no internal pressure to accomplish the goal, so it gets put in the back burner.

Well, this is how you set SMART Goals, you make them specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound.

Remember this, time is the true price paid for your dreams, the earlier the dream can be achieved, the more time you have to enjoy it.

Don't let other people rob you of your goals, use the SMART method and share it with others so you can help each other reach your goals.

Examples of SMART Goal Statements

Vague Goal Statement: I want my job to be a good fit.

SMART Goal Statement: By the end of November of [insert year], I will be in a position that fits with my Myers Briggs Type Indicator (e.g. ENFJ), utilizes my top ten transferable skills, fits my top five career values, correlates with my top 5 passions, provides for the top five work environment preferences I have (e.g. short commute, open concept office, matrix management style, natural light in work area and perfume free environment). I will join a job search club, research to create a list of 50 companies that fit with my good fit profile and participate in ten or more networking events.

Vague Goal Statement: I will take some professional development courses.

SMART Goal Statement: By January 1st of [insert year], I will have researched and decided on five courses I want to complete over a three year period. I will register in my first course to start September of [insert year]. My course plan fits with my five year career plan and I will have determined a budget and gathered the financial resources and family support in place prior to January 1st [insert same year as above].

Vague Goal Statement: I want a raise.

SMART Goal Statement: By December 1st of [insert year], I will have positioned myself to ask for a raise of a minimum of 10% of my salary by cutting my department's budget by 10% and increasing my departments sales by 10%.

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