Why you need to have S.M.A.R.T. goals

The S.M.A.R.T. acronym has been widely used to establish criteria for effective goal setting. According to this, goals need to be:

S – Specific

When setting a goal, you need to be specific about what you want to achieve. Goals such as “I want to lose weight” or “I want to be rich” are too vague and as a result, not measurable. Being more specific, for example “I want to lose 5 kilograms of weight” or “I want to earn an annual salary of R1 million”, gives you a clear objective that is measurable. It therefore allows you to determine when your goal has been achieved.

M – Measurable

In order for your goal to be more tangible, you need a way to measure whether you have achieved it. If you can clearly measure a 5 kilogram decrease in your weight, or you have an income statement showing an annual income of R1 million, you will know that you have attained your goal.

A – Achievable

Although your goals should not be so easy to achieve that you remain stuck in your comfort zone, you also do not want your goals to be impossible to achieve. In addition, you may need to consider whether you will need to develop new skills or make specific sacrifices to achieve your goals.

R – Relevant

Your goals furthermore need to be relevant to, and in alignment with your overall life goal and purpose. You should therefore ensure that your goals are congruent with the person you want to be or become. For example, if you regard yourself as a law-abiding person with high morals, achieving your goal of earning R1 million a year, should not result in you having to betray your principles and values.

T – Time-bound

Lastly, it is of utmost importance to set realistic timelines to achieving your goals. Without such deadlines, goals may be postponed (repeatedly and eventually indefinitely) and the success of achievement decreases. Having a timeline also forces you to monitor progress throughout the process.

In conclusion, to enhance the chance of successfully achieving your goals, ensure that they are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound.

Download your S.M.A.R.T. goal work sheet from the Tools section and ensure that your next goal is a SMART goal!