When it comes to goal setting, the acronym SMART has become a popular framework to ensure goals are set in an effective way. A common definition for the SMART goals acronym is: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.
When I first started teaching SMART goals, this is exactly how I taught it. Over time, I realized that like many things, goal setting is not one-size-fits-all and that varying the acronym up made it more powerful for some of my clients. You'll find different combinations have their own unique strengths. You can pick one word for each part of SMART or try combining them for the ultimate goal setting strategy. Below are the combinations I use the most often.
SMART: Specific and Simple
Specific - Goals should be specific and well-defined. This means identifying exactly what you want to achieve and how you will achieve it. By setting specific goals, you can create a roadmap for success and stay focused on the most important tasks.
Simple - Goals should be straightforward and easy to understand. Complex goals can be overwhelming and lead to confusion or lack of motivation.
While Specific and Simple might seem to be slightly at odds, it really does help to think of them as keeping each other in balance. You don't want to get bogged down in the details (too Specific) or set a goal that is too big picture (too Simple.)
Think of them as working together to make sure your goals are clear and easy to understand.
SMART: Measurable and Meaningful
Measurable - Goals should also be measurable, meaning you should be able to track your progress and determine whether you're making progress towards your goal. This can involve setting specific metrics or benchmarks that you want to achieve.
Meaningful - Goals should have personal significance and be aligned with your values and beliefs. When goals have meaning, you are more likely to be motivated and committed to achieving them.
Your goals should be important to you and measurable so that you can track your progress.
SMART: All Areas and As If Now
All Areas - The primary areas of life include career, relationships, family, personal growth, health, and spirituality and you should consider setting goals for each area, not just one. By setting goals in all areas, you can create balance and ensure that you are making progress in all aspects of your life.
As If Now - This characteristic is more about how you view the goal rather than the goal itself. To communicate this goal effectively to your unconscious or subconscious mind, describe the goal in present-tense rather than future-tense. This allows your unconscious to see the outcome as if it were real, making it more intense, rather than something we hope happens...someday. Instead of saying, "I will...", say, "It's now December 31st and I now have..." Consider the timeline for achieving your goal and mentally imagine what it would look like on that date to have achieved your goal.
Set goals in all areas of your life and state them as if you've already achieved them to clearly communicate what you want to your unconscious mind.
SMART: Realistic and Responsible
Realistic - Goals should be challenging but achievable. Setting goals that are too unrealistic can lead to discouragement and a lack of motivation. At the same time, setting goals that are too realistic violates the characteristic of meaningful. Find a harmony here based on what works for you.
Responsible - Goals should be set with personal responsibility in mind. You should take ownership of your goals and commit to taking action to achieve them. Your goals should also be ethical and ecological.
Your goals should be challenging, but not impossible and you should personally commit to achieving them in a way that is ecological for you and others.
SMART: Timed and Towards
Timed - Finally, goals should be timed, meaning you should have a clear deadline for achieving them. This can help to create a sense of urgency and motivate you to take action towards achieving your goal.
Towards - Goals should be oriented towards a positive outcome rather than away from a negative one. While away-from goals can create motivation in the short-term, towards goals create consistency and long-term success.
Set a deadline for your goals and focus on what you want instead of what you want to avoid.
Getting Started with SMART Goals
SMART goal setting is a powerful tool for achieving success in any area of life. Here are a few examples of how to start a SMART goal.
Health and Fitness: "It is now June 30th and I now weigh my goal weight of 130 pounds which will allow me to have the energy I need for my career and my family."
Career: "It is now December 31st, and I just doubled my business year-over-year."
Education: "It is May 31st and I just completed my computer science degree with a 3.5 GPA."
Creating Momentum Towards Your SMART Goals
Creating your SMART goal is just the beginning. Next you have to commit to turning that vision into reality. Here are a few tips to help you create momentum towards your goals.
- Connect to your SMART goal regularly. Don't just think of it as a one-time event but rather an ongoing process that you're going to want to stay engaged with as you move towards it.
- Create an Action Plan. Break your goal down into small, achievable steps. Prioritize and sequence the steps and start tackling them one by one.
- Maintain Accountability. This is where a lot of people struggle. Setting goals and planning are the easy steps, maintaining accountability, especially for ourselves, can be challenging. Instead of trying to do it yourself, get someone to hold you accountable. This can be a friend, mentor, or even a professional coach. We tend to show up for others more than we show up for ourselves so use that to your advantage by involving others in your success.