Study Plan

smart-goal-criteria.docx

SMART Goal Criteria

S is for specific.

The more specificity you bring to your goal, the clearer it is.

· Vague goal: “I want to advance in my company.” How exactly would you like to advance—in terms of money or title? What position would you like to hold?

· More specific goal: “I want to advance to the position of senior sales manager.”

M is for measurable.

You must be able to track your progress toward the goal and understand when you have attained it. Measurability allows for that.

· Not measurable: “Get better at public speaking.”

· Measurable and specific: “Give one class lecture without stuttering.” If you do not stutter during the class, you know you have achieved the goal.

A is for achievable or attainable.

One tendency with goal setting is to aim too high, but that approach can set goals beyond our reach.

· Likely not achievable: “Earn my Doctor of Nursing Practice degree within 1 year of starting.” This goal is not feasible due to workload and the established timeline of the program. Likewise, “Become an executive chef in a three-star restaurant within 2 years” is not likely to happen if you are currently a dishwasher with no culinary training. So… be conservative when determining what is actually achievable.

R is for relevant.

This criterion ensures that the goal is important to you right now, at this point in your life.

· For instance, if your goal is “Start my own home health care business by the end of the year,” consider what else is going on in your life. What other goals are you working toward? How does this goal help or hinder those? Perhaps you have just bought a house, which has reduced your finances; it might not make sense to invest in a business at this point as well.

T is for timely or time bound.

Every goal must include a deadline or timeframe. Otherwise, why would you ever start it? The procrastinator in you might just keep waiting and waiting and never take action.

· When determining an appropriate goal timeframe, ask yourself how long you need to realistically complete the goal. This date gives you the end point, but it should also spark a desire to achieve mini goals along the way to attaining the larger goal.