When making goals, it’s important to learn about the acronym S.M.A.R.T. It can help you make better goals. Each letter stands for a different area of the goal. If you create a smart goal, you have created a goal that is Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Reasonable, and Timely. Using SMART goals can set you up for success in your goal setting.
S – Stands for SPECIFIC, which means that your goal needs to be spelled out very precisely. Using language that leaves no doubt as to what the goal is, why you want to achieve the goal, and how you will get there is very important. If you are not able to be detailed in your description of the goal, it will be hard to meet it. Take the time to do this part right.
Example: Instead of saying that you want to increase sales, let's say that you want to increase sales 20% by June 30, 2020.
M – Stands for MEASURABLE, which means that you should be able to use this as a metric for which to determine success. If your goal can’t be quantified, then it’s not a full goal and you won’t know how to tell when you’ve succeeded. The SPECIFIC goal in the example above is MEASURABLE: you know where you are now and can easily measure the 20% increase.
A – There are different things that “a” can stand for but it’s usually ACTIONABLE or ACHIEVABLE. The preference to really get something good done is to make your goal actionable, meaning something where you can do something for each day that will eventually result in an accomplished goal. Goals should also be achievable or you will only get frustrated. Be accurate about the time it takes to reach a goal, and what actions it takes to get there. Also, know who will be responsible for doing it. Again using the SPECIFIC, MEASURABLE goal from above, what ACTION will you take today, tomorrow, and the next day to increase your sales by 20%?
R – This can stand for REALISTIC or RELEVANT, and either or both are important and are true. If you want your goal to succeed, it should most certainly be something that is realistic or you will fail. It should also be relevant to your life’s vision and match with your values. It's much more REALISTIC to achieve a 20% increase in sales than to, say, triple your sales in the same period of time.
T – Various authors refer to the “T” in the S.M.A.R.T. acronym as TIME-BOUND, TIMELY, or TRACKABLE. All of these t’s are important parts of the goal creating and setting process. If you don’t set a time limit and you can’t track what is happening, your goal will be hard to quantified or show as achieved. I personally prefer using the word TIME-BOUND for goal setting - having an end date for achieving my goal creates a sense of urgency and keeps me on task. Our example above sets a date for accomplishing the 20% increase in sales.
Whichever words you use to help you craft your goals, the important thing is to set those S.M.A.R.T. goals and work every day to achieve them.
To your success!
Laura
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Laura Olson-Oxley is an entrepreneur, coach, speaker, marketing and business consultant, and sales professional. She has over 25 years experience working with small businesses in a variety of industries, focusing on strategic business growth through effective marketing and advertising. Also a strategist, numbers nut, project manager, and life-long learner, Laura looks at the big picture to analyze and recommend the most effective tools to take businesses to the Next Level.
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