Setting goals for SMART – examples, criteria

«Naive optimism» distorts reality and twists expectations from the same reality to the maximum. Then frustration, broken dreams, apathy. This can be avoided by learning the method of setting SMART tasks.

How to set SMART goals

SMART target technology can be reduced to the first criterion - specificity. Personal life can be viewed more or less with a horizon of 1 year — then the vision of the future will be difficult. Use the SMART method for medium and short-term goals.

For long-term goals, it is more appropriate to set goals-direction rather than specific goals. Pure self-deception — to set long-term goals and even more goals for life with the SMART method.

The SMART method helps to choose the wording of the desired/planned result. It is simply a form of recording your goals, not a method to achieve them.

Any technology, even the most killer one, in the wrong hands won't work. To set smart goals correctly, you need to gain experience and wisdom.

Proven SMART planning option: make lists of goals — plans for a year or 3 months — and work on them; check the plan at least once a week and monitor their implementation. If there is no progress on the goals, it is too difficult. Reduce the complexity down to a microscopic task.

Benefit of SMART Goal Planning

It is almost impossible for an employee to get out of financial slavery without SMART planning skills. Here you should understand the key ability in personal effectiveness — to transfer your fantasies into specific tasks and actions.

Setting a SMART target gives us an understanding and an opportunity to predict the achievement of the target. Through technology, our abstract «want» transforms from a «desired» result into a «planned» result.

The SMART planning system's task is to increase the probability of achieving the desired result.

SMART Target Criteria — Transcript by Example

After Drucker, the method was packed into a memorable wrapper with the abbreviation S.M.A.R.T on five basic criteria. [1] [2]

We will decipher SMART criteria for setting personal goals.

Specific

We specify the desired effect in our personal life, making it understandable and achievable. Instead of dreamy, general formulations, it is necessary to write down specific consequences at the output.

According to the SMART principle, goals should be with one specific result. If the goal is «to become a family man», it should be broken down into sub-targets or small goals.

	SMART Goal Setting
To become financially independent.	To provide for yourself and to pay the rent.
Learn English.	Watch the soap operas in the original.
To travel.	Spend a week abroad.
To be happier.	Consult a therapist.
To find a family.	A series of goals: Get to know each other. To make an offer. Sign up. Conception. To give birth.
Improve your physical fitness.	Run in a day.

Measurable

SMART goal setting technology involves the control of the goal manager. To do so, it must be measurable. The numbers must be adequately matched so that they make sense (unit of measurement) as in Case 6.

Each SMART method criterion transforms and clarifies the target. The same targets with a measurability criterion will become more specific.

Bad examples	SMART goals
To become financially independent.	Have an income of $ 1500 / month.
Learn English.	Take the TOEFL exam at 80.
To travel.	To celebrate New Year in Amsterdam.
To be happier.	Wheel of balance of life by 7-10 points.
Improve your physical fitness.	Run 10 km per hour.
To help 10,000 people. The unit of measurement is not set. Is help a quick tip or an hour-long consultation?	To publish a book with a circulation of 10,000. The unit of measurement is the book sold.

Achievable

The achievability criterion means that the target is already within your strength or is in your growth zone. You have enough knowledge and skills to achieve it, or you will need to work a little on yourself to cope with it.

You can imagine, step by step, what you need to do, and every step is within your power. It may be hard for you to reach, but it doesn't scare you. The goal may be questionable, but it does not paralyze the will.

If the target seems unattainable, it is better to set an intermediate target available to you. If the target is set and you are postponing it, it is easier to set the target.

Anti examples	Goals by SMART
Double your income.	Get a promotion at work.
Make a presentation at the conference.	To make a presentation at the courses of public speaking.
To go rest on the sea.	Go to another city for the weekend.
Jump with a parachute.	Jump in tandem with a parachute.
Starting a blog.	Writing interesting posts on Facebook.

Relevant

This criterion of the SMART goal method requires an analysis of the question «Why do I want to do this?». Many goals lead to your original desire, and perhaps they are more interesting.

There are many ways to lead a healthy lifestyle: running, eating, swimming, playing volleyball. You need to check that it suits you best. Explore yourself: how you feel when you go through different paths to a healthy life.

If the goal is complex and you are not sure that you want to pursue it, I recommend setting an intermediate goal for the experiment. Do you want to go part of the way and see how it is — is there a hunt to aim for it further?

Reverse example	SMART Goal Setting
To hitchhike to Rome.	Hitchhike to the next big city.
Learn to sing and play guitar.	It's a month of vocal training.
Become a programmer.	To understand whether you like to work with code or want income as a programmer.
Running in the morning.	Try dancing/yoga/tennis.
Rollerblading (to get to know each other there).	Play the Mafia.

Time-bound

In management, this is an important criterion for every purpose. Other employees need to focus on the success of their colleagues and make plans based on the actions of members of the organization.

In personal life, it is more convenient not to set single goals with a given time frame, but to make an annual plan.

Negative examples	SMART goal setting
Read 7 books on self-development in 2023. Drawing courses in May 2023. Freediving Courses in August 2023.	SMART plan for 2023: Read 7 books on self-development. Drawing courses. Freediving Courses.
Buy a laptop in January. Go to your grandmother's on January 6. Buy tickets to Thailand until February.	A SMART plan for January: Buy a laptop. Go to your grandmother's. Buy tickets to Thailand.
Learn to meditate.	Meditate one hour a day for a month.

Advantages of the SMART goals method

The ability to set SMART goals helps not only in business. The concept of goal setting is also used by ordinary people for personal purposes. SMART system provides clarity in the implementation of tasks.

Let's look at the main advantages of SMART objectives:

1. A statement of direction.

   If SMART targets are defined, you have a clear direction to perform your tasks. If you have a business, the prescribed goals send a team to make decisions every day.

2. Help with the planning.

   By learning how to set goals, you will reach a more advanced level of planning tasks for both your business and personal everyday problems.

3. Getting a quick result.

   Properly formulated SMART goals help you to achieve your goals more quickly. You will have less time to perform unproductive actions.

4. Means of motivation.

   If you have a big goal, it will be your motivation tool.

   For example, to expand your influence, you need to increase your audience coverage. Such a goal will make you go onstage at conferences or write interesting posts for social networks and record regular forums for your subscribers.

What should be the SMART target?

A task for the diligent. Formulate in your mind a difficult but achievable goal for you on each point. Run a quick check to make sure you like it and are measurable.

The deadline is three months.

Targets are not SMART	SMART goals in life: examples
To understand where «problems» come from in life.	Take the whole thing apart into spheres of life. Make up the wheel of balance.
To lead a healthy life.	How do you change your diet for the better? What kind of physical activity should be made a habit of?
Take life apart by the shelves.	Do a life audit. Collect meaningful facts. Take a Life Map course.
Live brightly.	What exactly should I do to live the next month brighter than the current month?
To meet your love.	Where can «hey» be and how do I get to know them? What can you change about yourself to be interesting to yourself?
To become rich.	What kind of income to have in a month? What is it like to be where the money is? What services should the world provide?
Improve your physical fitness.	Would you be athletic and pumped? Will you be mobile and hardy?

The ability to set goals and objectives needs to be developed and practiced regularly. I and many others even develop a source of daily pleasure — performance in fulfilling obligations. [3]

Learn to set reasonable goals with SMART technology.

---

---