Setting goals can be a challenging process but employing the SMART method will help any person work towards their goals. This blog shares what goals are, details how to use the SMART method, and explains why goal setting is important.
Written by Meghan O'Brien
Whether you are in school, starting out at a new job, or are well versed in the workplace, setting goals is a great way to explore your ambitions. Not only can this process be applied to your desires for personal advancement, like saving for a new car or striving for a 3.8 GPA, but it also appears in the workplace. You are likely to experience professional goal setting, coaching reviews, or creating strategic plans for success. Let’s explore the process of creating meaningful goals for any stage of life using the SMART method.
Goals are most likely a familiar term to you, but sometimes it can be tricky to define what they truly encompass. Goals are observable and measurable end results that have one or more objectives to be achieved within a certain time frame. By creating goals, you take hold of your future and are empowered to work hard towards something you are passionate about.
When exploring your ambitions, know that they can come to fruition in any aspect of your life. From networking with colleagues to personal health and well-being, there is no wrong place to reach for achievement. The beauty of goal setting is that it is unique to you and your needs. You are in the driver’s seat of your ambitions!
Because goals are an individualized effort, you will be the primary person assessing progress and completion. To help aid your progress, follow the SMART model while in the creation stage. SMART goals are:
- Specific: The more detailed and focused, the better! Know what you want to accomplish and why it is important to you.
- Measurable: How are you going to track progress? Create a plan to know when you have made progress and when you have reached completion.
- Achievable: Be realistic! Thinking big is great, but make sure you plan within your abilities to reach the desired outcome. Assess obstacles in your way and learn how you can navigate them.
- Relevant: Ask – “Does this goal align with my interests or help me improve in some way?”
- Time bound: Set a specific time frame for accomplishment. This will help you stay on track for completion.
Using the SMART method will bring your goal setting to the next level.
Let’s compare these two goals:
- I want to be a better leader in my department. To do this, I will work on my communication skills and be friendly to my team.
- To better my leadership skills in the workplace over the next 60 days, I will report my current projects in weekly team meetings and take on a leadership role in the upcoming social media campaign. To track my progress, I will record areas of growth in a journal to share at biweekly meetings with my supervisor.
I think we can agree on which goal will help a person make more progress and guide direction! The second option outlines steps to be taken, a specific time frame, and is realistic to obtain.
SMART goals take time to create but will help you achieve measurable outcomes. The SMART method can be applied to any aspiration– be creative in your own personal goal setting and see what you can accomplish!
Although goals can range in size from cutting back on coffee to saving for a new home, each one is important in its own way. Making progress on small goals unlocks the door to achieving bigger goals and proves to us that we can achieve what we set our mind to. Goals are important because:
- They hold us accountable and provide room for feedback on our progress.
- Allow individuals to assess their values and interests.
- Help a person determine their “why” and “where.”
- Show an individual how to focus their energy and efforts on what will help them move towards their future.
- Promote self-motivation and a sense of achievement.
Setting goals for yourself is not as scary as it seems. Following the SMART model will help you create goals unique to your needs. Once you cross an accomplished goal off the list, create new ones! There is no limit on how much you can achieve. Knowing how to set goals following the SMART model is a life-long skill. Whether you find your goals needing a boost at work, in your college preparations, or any other area of life, think SMART! Keep in mind that obstacles might come up or you may find your goals over time, but celebrating the successes, big or small, will help propel your goal setting to new levels!
If you want to learn more about career readiness and goal setting, check out our signature Career Readiness Program, ULaunch. ULaunch is a done-in-a-day career readiness curriculum, specifically curated for high schoolers. There are over 29 courses about interviewing, resume writing, soft skills, and more. The content for this blog was specifically gathered from our course on Professional Goal Setting. Sign up for a ULaunch workshop today to help build these skills for yourself and your organization by filling out your information on our Contact page and a representative will reach out to you with more information!