What is SMART goal setting? Why use a goal setting system? How does the SMART goal setting system help you to achieve your goals? This article answers:
* What Is SMART Goal Setting?
* What Is A Goal Setting System?
* When should you use a Goal Setting System?
SMART is the acronym for goals that are:
Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic/Relevant Time framed.
Many people have difficulty attaining goals because they haven’t learned to create goal statements according to this criteria. SMART goals lead to successful goal attainment by keeping you focused, efficient, and on track towards the desired end result: your goal zone. What is the process of establishing SMART goals?
First you need to start with your desired end result: what do you want to accomplish? Right now, you only want to specifically state the goal. Let’s use employment as an example. “I want to be employed in this field/company at this rate of pay”. Don’t get distracted by how you are going to reach your goal. Do not get distracted by pros and cons, or how's and why's. The first step in this system is to know exactly what you want to achieve. Specifically stating your desired end result is the only goal at this step in the goal achievement ladder.
The second step is to state the goal in steps, or objectives, that are measurable. This keeps you motivated because you can verify your progress. In the goal setting system, measurable typically means there is a number attached: time, numbers, percentages, or dates. Continuing with our employment example, state: “In one week (7 days), I will contact three employers to obtain three interviews for my desired position.” Establishing specific goal criteria accurately determines how close you are to the end zone. This is the purpose for putting measures on your goals: it keeps you actively pursuing your end zone.
The third step in the SMART goal setting system is to check that your goal is attainable. This is the step where many people fail in achieving a goal because they start looking at can’ts, instead of I CAN’s. To combat this, define where the locus of control is located : is it internal or external? In setting employment goals, for example, you need to set goals where you are in control. Meeting with three employers in one week is attainable because it is internally controlled. Trying to meet with 100 employers in one week probably is not attainable, simply due to the external factor of their schedules all allowing your contact.
This step answers the question of what you can do immediately to achieve your goal. Make a list of the “how” needed to get to the end result. Be sure the list is consists of measurable actions and/or behaviors. Fill in the blank at the end of this statement: “In order to do/be this, I will __________.” Attainable means you are focused on “right now” and “you”.
The next step in the SMART goal setting ladder is relevancy and realism. What actions can you take that are relevant to the goal? Consider what resources are in your immediate environment that will help you achieve the goal. In our job example, for example, what connections can you make to reach your goal? Setting in front of the television is neither relevant to nor realistic in gaining employment; however, networking with your neighbor could be depending on their knowledge/connections. Being realistic in goal setting strengthens your belief, motivation, and actions towards goal attainment.
Time is the last element of the SMART goal setting system. Stating “Someday I would like to travel to Europe” immediately puts that goal on the back burner. In contrast, stating “By the end of the week, I will know the total necessary to travel to Europe” puts the power of immediate action to the goal. At the end of the week, you could set the next sub-goal as: “On day eight, I will compute how much I need to save each week to achieve that goal in a year, as well as learn what is necessary (such as passports) to travel to Europe in one year.” Setting a time frame to each step gives the power of ACTION to your goals.
Many people do not attain desired goals simply because they do not take the time to accurately plan how to attain the goal. To help you stay focused, use a SMART goal worksheet. Implementing the SMART goal system can help you achieve all your goals, from cleaning off your desk to re-arranging your life.
© Debra Contreras, 2010 ©
No comments:
Post a Comment