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Where do SMART goals come from?
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Where do SMART goals come from?
How to use SMART goals to improve your career
If you want to make progress on your aspirations, it pays to be SMART. Setting goals isn’t something you should rush into without an action plan — it requires plenty of thought and purpose.
That’s where the SMART goal-setting method comes in handy. It lays the groundwork to achieve personal desires, business targets, and professional development milestones.
This tried-and-true method requires effort, but detailed SMART goal examples can provide inspiration to get you started. Use these examples and step-by-step instructions as a springboard to write your own SMART goals. Soon, you’ll know exactly what you need to accomplish your ambitions.
SMART goals follow a specific framework to achieve goals. You can use this method for any type of goal — personal, professional, financial, and more. You can also use the SMART goal framework for short-term and long-term goals.
SMART is an acronym that stands for:
Specific: Your goals should be limited to a single area. Instead of trying to “be a better person,” try focusing on your listening skills or positive self-talk.
Measurable: The goal must align with explicit metrics, such as saving a specific amount of money or qualifying for a particular certification. This indicates when you’ve accomplished your mission.
Attainable: The goal needs to be realistic. Maybe you won’t qualify for the Olympic basketball team, but you could improve your free throw percentage.
Relevant: Goals should move you in the direction of your values, dreams, and ambitions.
Time-bound: Time-based goals create urgency and encourage efficient time management. There must be a due date for completion so you can pace your efforts.
Once you’ve checked all these boxes, you’re left with a detailed goal-setting plan that keeps you focused and headed in the right direction.
Using the SMART goal framework helps direct your actions toward reaching your goals. Framing your plans this way highlights potential challenges, letting you chart a detailed course that accounts for obstacles.
Developing an action plan that works for you can be difficult. But talking to friends or a life coach can help you set goals that will most benefit your future. And it gives you the social support you need to feel motivated and stay accountable.
Goal-setting theories and studies have been around for quite some time, but we have George T. Doran to thank for the SMART acronym and its accompanying goal framework. Building on existing goal-setting theory, Doran published his method in 1981 for use in business and management.
When he came up with the framework, many US businesses weren’t effectively setting goals or implementing successful planning processes. Doran used his framework to ensure managers had a solid template for creating meaningful, detailed objectives, such as increasing profitability and setting team benchmarks.
Doran’s original acronym stood for Specific, Measurable, Assignable, Realistic, and Time-related, focusing on delegating tasks in a corporate structure. It has since been adapted to fit a wide range of personal and professional ambitions.
Fast-forward to the present, and thousands of organizations and individuals use the SMART goal-setting method to achieve all manner of organizational and life goals.
Setting SMART goals can further your career development. Learning how to set goals and achieve them is an invaluable skill. They can be about improving, increasing, developing, or controlling outcomes at work. By creating these goals, you’re showing that you care about finding purpose in your career and are willing to put in the time and energy to do so.
For example, imagine you’re starting at a new company as an entry-level employee. If you want to become part of management one day, you need to set detailed goals to get there. You’ll have to learn the necessary leadership skills, what warrants a promotion, and how many steps there are in the employee ladder.
Your goals should help you visualize precisely where you want to be and the path you must take. Practical SMART goals chart a worthwhile action plan to get you there.
Before setting your own professional and personal goals, it may help to see some practical examples. Take note of these leadership, personal development, and work goals:
Some people struggle with goal setting, and that’s okay. Take comfort in knowing this is a skill you can grow. Your first goal might not be detailed enough, or your measurement system may prove inadequate. Even an objective that doesn’t meet all the SMART criteria is still a learning opportunity.
Each time you set a goal, you’ll learn what practices work best for you and which ones to avoid.
Here are eight tips for using the SMART goal-setting framework:
Hopefully these SMART goal examples have inspired you to try setting some goals of your own. After all, measuring your goals provides a clear path to achieving them. It’s hard to gauge progress without metrics. If you can’t tell whether you’re on the right track, you won’t know if and when you need to course-correct.
Closely tracking your goals also helps you manage your energy. They can show you when you’re tired and need a break or when your motivation typically spikes.
SMART objectives support your future self. Just remember: all progress is progress. If you’re struggling to measure something abstract, such as being kinder to those around you, that’s normal. Regularly check in with yourself to see if you feel like you’ve grown, and be proud of yourself for trying.
Make meaningful changes and become the best version of yourself. BetterUp's professional Coaches are here to support your personal growth journey.
Make meaningful changes and become the best version of yourself. BetterUp's professional Coaches are here to support your personal growth journey.
Madeline is a writer, communicator, and storyteller who is passionate about using words to help drive positive change. She holds a bachelor's in English Creative Writing and Communication Studies and lives in Denver, Colorado. In her spare time, she's usually somewhere outside (preferably in the mountains) — and enjoys poetry and fiction.
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