Smart Goal Setting
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Look SMART: Goal Setting to Achieve Results
You may know well enough the SMART goal setting acronym. However even using this may not help you pin down your life goals that will help you achieve the life you want. A reminder for those that have forgotten, SMART stands for Specific, Measured, Achievable (or Attainable), Realistic and Timed.
So what does that mean?
So what does that mean?
Specific
To achieve something you need to define what it is that you intend to achieve. A goal therefore needs to be clear. The more specific and refined a goal is the better. I want to lose weight is quite specific but I want to be happy is not.
It is also important that the goal is specific to you. The more you can imagine it with all your senses the easier it will be to stay focussed and achieve it. Although the idea of losing weight is reasonably specific if you cannot see yourself in your mind as a thinner person you will struggle.
It is also important that the goal is specific to you. The more you can imagine it with all your senses the easier it will be to stay focussed and achieve it. Although the idea of losing weight is reasonably specific if you cannot see yourself in your mind as a thinner person you will struggle.
Measured
The way that you can tell if you have achieved a specific goal is through measurement. By recording or measuring the status before and after can you ascertain if change has occurred.As before with I want to be happy, you cannot measure happiness. I want to lose weight is ok but as no change is recorded the goal would be better stated as I want to lose x pounds in weight.
Achievable
Setting yourself specific and measurable goals is great if you can actually achieve them. There are those who would argue that you can achieve virtually anything that you set your mind to, however, bearing in mind your current skills, abilities and resources, what is truly attainable for you and within the realms of reason may vary.
I want to learn some basic French for my holiday is reasonable as long as you have the time available to study. I want to win a medal at the next Olympics would be fine for someone who is already an active and committed sportsperson. If your idea of exercise is walking to the kitchen during the commercials this goal would be unattainable. I want to lose 10 pounds in weight by improving my diet is fine (notice how this has become more specific as well).
I want to learn some basic French for my holiday is reasonable as long as you have the time available to study. I want to win a medal at the next Olympics would be fine for someone who is already an active and committed sportsperson. If your idea of exercise is walking to the kitchen during the commercials this goal would be unattainable. I want to lose 10 pounds in weight by improving my diet is fine (notice how this has become more specific as well).
Realistic
Realistic is similar to achievable but focuses more on the general reality. There are those who would argue that anyone can achieve anything they set their mind to given the right amount of effort and commitment. Realistic here can be understood to consider how feasible something is and within your control.
I want so-and-so to go out with me is not realistic if so-and-so doesn't feel the same way about you. I want to grow wings and fly likewise. I want to be able to swim 30 lengths without stopping would be fine depending on your swimming ability and the timescale given. Again, as with being specific, make sure it is a goal you perceive as realistic. If you cannot see yourself going off for swimming lessons or celebrating your success at the end you are less likely to stick with it.
I want so-and-so to go out with me is not realistic if so-and-so doesn't feel the same way about you. I want to grow wings and fly likewise. I want to be able to swim 30 lengths without stopping would be fine depending on your swimming ability and the timescale given. Again, as with being specific, make sure it is a goal you perceive as realistic. If you cannot see yourself going off for swimming lessons or celebrating your success at the end you are less likely to stick with it.
Timed
By setting a time you put in place the final piece in goal definition. A goal just flaps about with having a timed element. I want to lose 10 pounds over my lifetime, in a week or in two months alter the realistic and attainable element of the goal as well.If you decide on a goal but never set a deadline or decide on a timescale in which to achieve it you diminish your incentive to achieve it.
A deadline will help focus you on achieving your goal.
It will also help prevent you procrastinating and make an action plan easier to tie down. When building an action plan from a decided date you can work backwards until you find out when you need to start. You can see how much effort you need to put in for each step of the plan.
It will also help to make it clear if the goal is achievable in the timescale. You can then refine the goal or change the timescale if that is feasible.
Some Books to Help You Get Achieving...
Putting it All Together
When defining a goal check it fits all the above criteria. If so you have a good goal. Then you need to ask yourself are you happy with it? Are you going to do it? Is it the right goal for you?Even when you set yourself goals with the best intentions if you are not motivated or they aren't fulfilling your underlying need then you will struggle to achieve them.
Consider the weight loss example. Although you may know you need to lose weight, if you comfort eat because you are unhappy in your relationship or have low self esteem, it is possible that you may never achieve the goal until you recognise and do something about your relationship or self esteem problems.
If the goal is the right one for you the other part is creating a good action plan to complete it. Understanding the steps you need to take to achieve your goal helps to break it down into manageable pieces. You can then focus on each step, taking away any feelings of being overwhelmed by the overall goal.
Motivation and perseverance tend to be the last pieces in the jigsaw. To complete your action plan you need to be motivated and to have the staying power to see things through.
SoftwareTo Get Those Goals Set and Achieved
Some SMART Goal Setting (and Keeping!) Tips
You may get as far as setting your goals and even writing an action plan but remembering, maintaining a belief and sticking with your goals is not always easy. The following tips are to help you set and work with your goals.
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Be sure the goal is one you can believe in, or you have the belief in yourself to achieve it. If this is difficult start with a smaller goal and be patient with yourself - work up to the big one slowly. If you haven't acheived the small goal as yet and are nowhere near achieving the big goal what have you got to lose? Nothing.
Just because some people can fire ahead, set goals and achieve them in record speed does not mean you will. Any success if good, so be proud of yourself for what you manage to do and don't compare yourself against others if it damages yours motivation. - Write your goal down. By writing it down you are making it more real and embedding it deeper in your subconscious, both as an intention to complete it and as a way to commit it to memory.
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Positively worded goals are easier to focus on. Rather than talking about losing weight, word your goal around improving your appearance, health or diet habits.
If you focus on what you are not supposed to be doing or getting in life you will inadvertently be drawn to what you are trying to move away from. - Consider setting many small goals towards a larger goal. Your sense of achievement will be stronger and will help you to maintain motivation towards your long term aim.
- Accept that sometimes you may slip from your plans. Accept your mistake and get yourself back on track as soon as you can.
- Sometimes you will need to get SMARTer. Your goal is not set in stone. If you find it hard going or you realise that you have got your SMART criteria wrong re-evaluate your goal and refine it to something more manageable.
- Sticky notes are helpful as little reminders. For example, a sticky note on your fridge when you are looking to improve your eating habits is a helpful memory jogger and gentle nudge in the right direction.
- Aim to take a small step towards your goal every day if possible. This will keep you focussed, help maintain your impetus and allow you to ensure you keep progressing.
Please let me know what you think
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MindPowerProofs
Apr 9, 2012 @ 5:04 am | delete
- Thanks for sharing
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king
Jan 12, 2012 @ 8:24 am | delete
- Great website and very good information that's made my day!!
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jvillekid
Nov 30, 2011 @ 6:11 am | delete
- Excellent advice. Should be helpful for some New Years resolutions!
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WELSHTOFFEE
Jul 25, 2010 @ 1:33 pm | delete
- Hi, this is a great description on goal setting. It has helped me in all walks of life. Thanks a lot.
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Tracey
Jun 21, 2010 @ 8:30 am | delete
- Hi Jacky
Great article on Goal Setting, voted it up for you. I wonder if you have tried goals on target. It really is a great tool for exactly this kind of thing.
I use it and have found it helps me focus on creating SMART goals that I can understand and also helps with adding all the tasks you need to create in order to achieve your goal. This is the most critical thing I have found. If you don't do the things that lead to your goals achievement then you never achieve your goals.
If you want to check it out (its free!) please sign up at http://www.goalsontarget.com/6/MakeEasyMoneyOnline.mlm
PS: You can even earn money by recommending the system to others.
All the best.
Tracey
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by BeCanDo
Hi, My name is Jacky Tustain and my prime focus is on helping small business owners, in the UK, overcome the frustrations they come up against when ru... more »
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