SMART Goals... Explained
Goal setting begins with S-M-A-R-T!
- And this acronym
is explained in all its glory below, via a YouTube video by Arina Nikitina, some thoughts
on this goal setting theory by me; and ProjectSmart.co.uk lend their opinions
too.
- Even better, I set about writing goals - my own personal and business goals - using SMART.
Well, I do... soon! My first goal is to get this page online.
And, as usual, I welcome your thoughts on goal setting, SMART, or otherwise - or just tell us about one of your goals!)
What I say...
I first discovered the smart goals acronym whilst working for a British financial institution based in Bristol in the 90s (that is now, alas, a shadow of its former self!). And, like many work-related acronyms I came across at the time (IIP, anyone?), I ignored it as being a meaningless fad!
Well, it just goes to show that not all business fads are a waste of time, doesn't it...
In fact, so popular has this kind of goal setting become (as a goal setting theory) that SMART actually has several meanings, depending on where you turn.
Arina Nikitina, of Goal-Setting-Guide.com, has SMART as...
S = Specific
M = Measurable
A = Attainable
R = Realistic
T = Timely
in her YouTube video (see below).
Whereas I always knew it as Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Timely
In fact Project Smart, a UK project management company, have this whole list of meanings for this SMART acronym at their whole list of meanings for this SMART acronym here!
S - specific, significant, stretching
M - measurable, meaningful, motivational
A - agreed upon, attainable, achievable, acceptable, action-oriented
R - realistic, relevant, reasonable, rewarding, results-oriented
T - time-based, timely, tangible, trackable
...Anyway, I think we all get the message about what SMART means!
So, S-M-A-R-T goals are - ahem! - the smart way to setting and writing goals!
But what does a smart goal look like?
Well... Arina Nikitina has some examples of this type of goal setting in her YouTube video (see below).
What YouTube (and Arina Nikitina) say..
And Arina, with her interesting European-English accent, explains the SMART acronym in a little more detail in this YouTube video. Get a pen ready, as she step-by-step takes you through each part of the acronym...