Table of Contents
What are SMART goals?
SMART goals are those goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. SMART goals are popular because they help you to break down daunting tasks into manageable and achievable steps. By having a clearly defined set of parameters in your SMART framework, you can create a plan to reach your desired outcome.
SMART goals are a great tool for setting yourself up for success. They help you focus on what’s truly important and break down big, daunting tasks into achievable goals. When you learn how to write SMART goals, you can more easily create plans and make progress towards your goals.
Teams that achieve amazing things usually begin by setting goals. Setting SMART goals helps them determine what they need to do to reach their desired outcome. The SMART method can help you achieve success by making your goals more specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely. It provides direction, motivation, and structure to help you reach your goals effectively.
A simple example of a SMART goal can be
If your goal is to improve your health, a SMART goal might look like this: I will go to the gym three times a week for 30 minutes each session. This goal is specific, measurable (you can track your progress), achievable (three times a week is doable), relevant (it’s about improving your health) and time-bound (you have a specific timeframe of 30 minutes).
What is the origin of SMART goal setting?
In 1981, George Doran, Arthur Miller, and James Cunningham created the concept of SMART goals in their article “There’s a S.M.A.R.T. way to write management goals and objectives.”
Doran wrote about the existing goal-setting theory and how the SMART goal framework could be used in a business context. His ideas have since been examined and used by others. The SMART acronym is now a part of personal and professional development, especially in the realm of any goal-setting process.
How to write SMART goals
SMART goals are a great way to set and achieve objectives. By following the SMART goal criteria, you optimize your chances of achieving success. To write your SMART goals, you need to follow these steps-
1. Make your goal SPECIFIC
It’s important that your goal is pinpointed and clearly defined. Having too much leeway in what you’re aiming for can cause confusion and make it less likely that you’ll achieve your desired outcome. To make your business, professional or personal goal specific, make sure you have the who, what, when, where and why of your goal. Some of the questions you should ask yourself are:
- What task or goal needs to be completed?
- Who is in charge of it?
- What specific actions must be taken to accomplish it?
Specific goals example – “I will write a blog post about SMART goals by the end of this week.”
2. Make your goal MEASURABLE
It’s important that you measure the progress of your goal so you can track how far you’ve come and how much further still needs to be done. When you measure progress, it gives you a chance to adjust if needed and weighs in on whether or not your goal is realistic.
Some questions to think about when measuring progress are:
- What kind of metrics will be used?
- What is the baseline?
- What are success markers along the way?
Measurable goals example – “I will increase my blog post traffic by 10% over the next month.”
3. Make your goal ACHIEVABLE
When making your goal, make sure it is achievable. If your goal is set too high you may not reach it and that can be discouraging. Make sure the resources or skills needed to complete the task are within reach for yourself or your team. You need to track the progress to make sure you are on track and also adjust your goals if needed.
Some questions to ask yourself when making a goal achievable are:
- What skills will be needed to accomplish this goal?
- What resources do I need in order to complete the task?
- Do I have the necessary resources on hand?
Achievable goals example – “I will create 10 blog posts this month, with a minimum of 500 words each.”
4. Make your goal RELEVANT or REALISTIC
You need to make sure that the goal you set for yourself or your team is relevant to what you are trying to achieve. It needs to be realistic and well thought out, making sure that everyone involved understands the importance of achieving it. This will help to motivate you and keep everyone on track with the project.
Some questions to ask yourself when making a relevant goal are:
- What is the end goal?
- What are the benefits of achieving this goal?
- Is this goal achievable in the set timeframe?
Relevant goals example – “I will make sure that my blog post topics are relevant to the audience I’m trying to reach.”
5. Make your goal TIME-BOUND
You need to set a specific target date or time frame in order to achieve your goal. This will give you the motivation and structure needed to complete the task in a timely manner. It’s important to make sure that the target date is realistic and achievable. When your goal setting is time-bound, it will help you track progress of your own smart goals more effectively.
Some questions to ask yourself when setting a target date are:
- What timeline am I working with?
- How much time do I have available to me?
- What is the deadline for this task?
Time-based goals example – “I will make sure that I publish 10 blog posts by the end of this month.”
Examples of SMART goals
Some examples of SMART personal and professional goal settings include –
1) SMART goal for changing careers
- Specific: I’d like to transition from my current job in marketing to a role in engineering.
- Measurable: I will take a preparation course to become certified in engineering and update my resume.
- Attainable: I already have an associate’s degree in engineering, so I just need the certification.
- Relevant: I am looking for greater job satisfaction and believe this career change is necessary to find it.
- Time-bound: I will be certified in engineering within six months.
2) SMART goal for maintaining a budget
- Specific: I’d like to track my expenses every month and stay within my budget.
- Measurable: I will use an online spreadsheet to monitor my spending each week.
- Attainable: My income is steady, so I can easily allocate funds for each expense.
- Relevant: I want to be more mindful of my spending and become more financially secure.
- Time-bound: I will check in with my budget every two weeks to stay on track.
3) SMART goal for learning a new language
- Specific: I’d like to learn Spanish.
- Measurable: I will take an online course and track my progress with tests and quizzes.
- Attainable: I already have some knowledge of Spanish, so I am confident in my ability to learn more.
- Relevant: I live in an area where Spanish is commonly spoken, so learning the language will be beneficial.
- Time-bound: I hope to complete my course in six months.
4) SMART goal for exercising more often
- Specific: I’d like to exercise three times a week.
- Measurable: I will track my progress with an online fitness tracker and log the duration and type of each workout.
- Attainable: I have access to a gym, so I can easily attend classes or use the equipment.
- Relevant: I want to become healthier and have more energy during the day.
- Time-bound: I will exercise three times a week for the next six months.
5) SMART goal for improving marketing ROI
- Specific: I’d like to increase our marketing ROI by 10% this quarter.
- Measurable: I will track the progress of our campaigns, measure responses and conversions, and report results.
- Attainable: We have a well-defined budget and clear objectives for each campaign, so success is achievable.
- Relevant: Improving ROI will help us better allocate our resources and increase customer loyalty.
- Time-bound: I will track and report progress on a weekly basis for the next three months.
What are the Pros and Const of SMART Goals?
SMART goals are a useful tool for many areas of life, from career development to project management. SMART is an acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. This framework is designed to help people set ambitious goals that are realistic and achievable.
Pros of SMART Goals –
- They help to keep you organized and on track. Breaking down a goal into its various components makes it easier to stay focused and on the same page.
- They are great for project management because they allow each task to be broken down into individual steps that can be monitored and evaluated along the way. This helps ensure nothing is forgotten or overlooked.
- They are also important for career development. They allow you to set personal and business goals that are specific, measurable, and time-bound so that you know which direction you need to take in order to achieve success.
Cons of SMART Goals –
- They don’t provide much flexibility. They are designed to be specific and rigid, so it can be difficult to make changes or adjustments along the way.
- They can also be too demanding and unrealistic. It’s important to ensure that the goals you set are achievable but also challenging enough to push yourself out of your comfort zone.
How to use SMART goals in your Business and Marketing Career
Using SMART goals is not only beneficial for project management, but it’s also key in career development. By setting clear and specific ambitions for yourself—like getting a promotion by the end of this quarter or managing an entire marketing campaign from start to finish—you can ensure that you are taking steps to reach your career goals.
Not only can you use SMART goals to chart your career path, but you can also use them as part of your performance review process. If you have a specific target for yourself or for the team, then you can measure your success against that goal and see if you reached it.
SMART goals provide a great way to take control of your projects and career progression—without getting lost in the details or getting discouraged by unexpected outcomes. By setting SMART goals and tracking your progress against them, you can ensure that your projects stay on track and achieve the best possible outcome!
Best Tip: If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the idea of setting SMART goals, break it down into manageable chunks. Start by writing a few specific and measurable goals that are linked to the overall goal, then set out a timeline for each task. This way, you can track your progress and make sure that everything is on track!
No matter what stage of your career you’re at, SMART goals can help take your projects and career to the next level. So why not give it a try?
Key Takeaways
- SMART goals are a great way to ensure that you’re taking steps to reach your goals and improve your career.
- The SMART acronym stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound goals.
- By setting SMART goals and tracking your progress against them, you can ensure that your projects stay on track and achieve the best possible outcome!
Liked this post? Check out the complete series on Marketing
