How to Set Smart Goals
Many people do not quite know how to go about setting goals. A common problem is setting goals that are too large or overambitious. It is much more sensible to set smaller goals that fit in with the larger objective rather than try to achieve everything all at once. In setting goals, you need to set SMART goals. SMART is actually an acronym for "Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time oriented". Using the SMART technique is a great way to define your objectives and increases the likelihood of attaining them. Let us quickly examine this method of setting goals.
Specific
Objectives must be specific. When stating what you want to achieve, you must do so in a clear and concise manner. Your description must be free from any ambiguity. For example, "I want to lose weight"
Measurable
An objective must be measurable. It simply isn't enough to be specific; there must be a way to measure progress. The marker must be something which will indicate you have attained your goal or you are on your way there. Drawing on our weight loss example above, you could state how many pounds you want to lose.
Achievable
In addition to being achievable, your goals must be realistic. Setting over-ambitious targets can actually act as a de-motivator and prevent you from attaining your objectives. Always ask yourself whether the targets you have set are attainable. A good way to determine this is to carry out a bit of research to find out if other people have done what you propose to do. If you find that other people have been able to do it or have come fairly close, then you can proceed. In other words the goal must not be too hard such that it discourages you but it must be challenging enough to get you to stretch yourself. Drawing on our weight loss example, it is unrealistic to set a weight loss target of 10 pounds a week - it would be a herculean feat and probably be dangerous to your health.
Relevant
Always select objectives that are relevant to your current situation in life. It could be your personal or professional development. The goal must be something you are truly committed to since you will be focusing a great deal of effort to them.
Time Oriented
Finally, a smart goal must be time oriented. This simply means that you cannot leave it open ended. You must state when you want the objective to be accomplished e.g. one week, two weeks, one month etc
When you form a habit of setting SMART goals in this manner, you will soon find yourself celebrating success after success.
