Whenever we have something to do, we have a goal to reach. We have something we are aiming for. It could be as complicated as reaching the pinnacle of our career, buying a house or planning a career break. Or, it could be as simple as buying this week’s lottery ticket or taking the dog for a walk.
The job you have on your desk to do now is a goal. Some goals are bigger than others, whilst some are easier to achieve than others. In order for us to achieve the goal though, it needs to be a SMART one. SMART stands for:
SPECIFIC: Our goals need to specify clearly what we hope to achieve. A specific goal is one that is clearly defined. I want to be a millionaire by the time I am 40 is specific. Now we know exactly what we’re trying to achieve and when we need to do it by.
MEASUREABLE: We need to be able to measure our achievement. Measurability ensures that we know how close we are to achieving our goal and, more importantly, enables us to know when we’ve achieved it.
ACHIEVABLE: I want to be a millionaire in the next three days. This is a goal. It’s a specific goal. We know what it is we want to achieve. And it’s measurable too. We know when we need to achieve it by. But is it achievable? Is it possible for me to become a millionaire in the next three days? Starting from nothing, I would need to earn over £333,333 each day for the next three days!
REALISTIC: This element is closely tied to ‘achievable’, although the two are slightly different. You could argue that I could become a millionaire in the next three days, if I won the lottery. However, the odds against doing so are pretty high. So, whilst the goal is technically achievable, is it realistic? This element of SMART asks you to undertake a reality check on your goal. Based upon your current circumstances is your goal realistic? Goals need to stretch us. They need to motivate us. Remember, we need a little stress in order to make us perform. But, if a goal is unrealistic, it will demoralise us, frustrate us and increase our stress levels disproportionately.
TIMELY: All goals should have a deadline. It’s the motivation that increases our stress levels to get us to perform. But, again, you must be realistic about how fast you can expect to achieve your dream or ambition.
Why not think about the goals you wish to achieve, list them and then look at how you can make them SMARTer. When you’ve done this you should be clearer about what you want to achieve in life and when you hope to achieve it.
Circumstances change, so review your personal visions every few years and remember to assess whether they are still SMART. And if you feel you need further help with managing your time and using it more effectively to achieve your goals then why not look at our Effective Time Management course?
