This time of year is busy with goal setting and starting the process of executing plans to achieve goals. For most business owners, however, the task and art of creating goals is overlooked, or more accurately, simply avoided. For the most part, the task of establishing goals is avoided because past experience achieving goals has been less than inspirational.
Why is goal achievement so elusive, and so difficult? It largely rests on the fact that the goals were far too vague, not well thought-out or clear, and therefore, not very compelling.
Being “S.M.A.R.T.” can rescue the entire process. Apply these steps to your goal setting and you will greatly enhance your goal achievement chances. All Goals and Goal setting should follow the S.M.A.R.T. process. In other words, make sure your Goals are “S.M.A.R.T.”
“S” – Specific – be as specific as you can describing your goals in terms of the “desired outcome”. What will the future state actually look like?
“M” – Measureable – describe your goals in quantitative terms, so you can check your progress and eventual achievement. Describe the outcome in units, dollars, degrees, yield, rates, speed, time, or any other “unit of measure” that allows you to gauge progress and know when you’ve reached the finish line.
“A” – Achievable – although goals should stretch the organization and your conventional processes, teams are most inspired and will often overshoot the target if they know there is a reasonable fighting chance to achieve the goal.
“R” – Results orientated – this is related to being Specific and requires that the goal be described in terms of the IMPACT on the organization.
“T” – Time-bound – this is the all important “by when” question. It is critical that each goal is time-bound by when it needs to be achieved. Time-bound goals create a sense of urgency and creativity.
“S.M.A.R.T.” goals increase the probability of success because they provide focus and direction for the individuals, teams and the entire organization. Check your most vital needs for the year and restate what needs to be achieved in a “S.M.A.R.T.” way. You will improve your odds of achievement by orders of magnitude.
About the author: Dave Verbeten is a certified Business Coach with ActionCOACH, the World’s #1 Business Coaching Franchise (Entrepreneur Magazine, Jan. 2004 & 2005). Dave works out of Libertyville, IL. You may contact Dave through his website, or directly at daveverbeten@actioncoach.com.
