The SMART Goals Guide website describes SMART as the appropriate framework for setting attainable goals. The site further reveals SMART as an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-Bound. That is, for a goal to be “smart”, it has to contain all of the five components in a single statement.
The process of setting such goals follows a step-wise formula as directed through the acronym. Thus, individuals wishing to develop a SMART goal have to begin with specificity. The more specific individuals are, the higher the chances that remain on the right track. This section attempts to respond to who, what, when, where, and why segments of the goal setting journey (Smart Goals Guide, 2016).
The next section is the measurability component. Here, goal setters should acknowledge the idea that measurability points to the outcomes. The stage implies breaking one’s general goal into measurable parts as a way of refining specificity. The third step considers attainability and acceptability in the real world. This step looks into checking the resources available to help in goal achievement (Smart Goals Guide, 2016).
Fourth, it would be essential to consider relevance in goal setting. Here, one has to find out if attaining their goal would be relevant in the real world. If they lack skills, it would be considerate for them to seek adequate training. Also, the most important part of this section is to review the key drivers behind this goal (Smart Goals Guide, 2016).
Finally, timeliness remains the terminal point of focuses in goal attainment. This section looks into the importance of setting a deadline when prompting action. Individuals that set deadlines have a higher chance of pushing towards an achievement and evaluating their progress. However, the timeline should remain flexible and realistic for reasonability (Smart Goals Guide, 2016).
Reference
Smart Goals Guide. (2016). What is a Smart Goal ? Retrieved from Smart Goals Guide: http://www.smart-goals-guide.com/smart-goal.html
