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Career development How To Write SMART …
How To Write SMART
Goals in 5 Steps
(With Examples)
Jennifer Herrity
Updated July 10, 2023
Image description
Setting project goals and meeting deadlines can
seem overwhelming, especially if you have team
members relying on your contributions or a
manager overseeing your progress. Learning
how to set speciJc SMART goals can help you
face your next looming deadline with conJdence.
In this article, we discuss the Jve elements of
creating SMART goals and we oMer an example
that will guide you through this process each step
of the way.
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What are SMART goals?
S Specific Makeyourgoalspecificandnarrow
formoreeffectiveplanning
M Measurable Makesureyourgoalandprogress
aremeasurable
A Achievable Makesureyoucanreasonablyaccomplish
yourgoalwithinacertaintimeframe
R Relevant Yourgoalshouldalignwithyourvalues
andlong-termobjectives
T Time-based Setarealisticbutambitiousenddatetoclarify
taskprioritizationandincreasemotivation
indeed
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Simply put, SMART goals are speciJc, measurable
and actionable. By using a series of Jve
benchmarks that comprise the SMART method,
you’ll be able to create concise goals and action
steps that will keep you on track.
How can speciJc goals make a diMerence?
Consider this example of a vague goal, and how
this same goal could be expressed after using the
SMART Method:
Vague goal: I want to help my department stay
on budget this year.
SMART goal: Each month, I will distribute a
budget report that shows our department’s
current expenses in comparison to our allotted
annual budget and I will highlight areas where we
are overspending. Based on our current
spending, I will o<er suggestions on how to cut
expenses so that we are back within budget.
Your SMART goal is now something measurable
and actionable with enough speciJcs to help you
achieve real results. Keep reading to see exactly
how we went from a vague goal to a SMART goal.
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How to set SMART goals
using the SMART method
Let's take a closer look at the Jve components of
creating a SMART goal.
1. Make your goal SPECIFIC
The Jrst step in creating a SMART goal is to make
it speciJc. Consider your goal in quantiJable
terms by asking yourself the following questions:
What do I want to accomplish?
Will achieving this goal have an important
impact?
What actions will I need to take?
Applying SMART "Speci5c" criteria: “I will
distribute a budget report."
Related: Stretch Goals vs. SMART Goals: What's
the DiAerence?
2. Make your goal MEASURABLE
This step in the SMART process prompts you to
apply methods of measuring your progress
toward achieving your goal. Being measurable
also takes into account any actions you would
implement to help you further your progress
toward your goal. For instance, this may take the
form of tracking the time it takes you to complete
an action or meet a milestone.
Applying SMART “Measurable” criteria: "I will
distribute a budget report that shows our
department’s current expenses in comparison to
our allotted annual budget."
Related: 10 Career Development Goals
3. Make your goal ACHIEVABLE
This aspect of the SMART strategy relates to your
goal being achievable. Do you have the resources
and time needed to achieve the goal? This may
include gathering necessary data, asking team
members for help and learning new skills. You're
more likely to be successful in your goal once it is
speciJc, measurable and deemed achievable.
Applying SMART “Achievable” criteria: "I will
distribute a budget report that shows our
department’s current expenses in comparison to
our allotted annual budget and I will highlight
areas where we are overspending."
Related: Interview Question: “What Are Your
Future Goals?”
4. Make your goal RELEVANT
A relevant goal will directly contribute to
successful results. Keep in mind that every action
you take should move you closer to your goal. In
our example, a relevant goal will directly reduce
expenses.
Applying SMART “Relevant” criteria: "I will
distribute a budget report that shows our
department’s current expenses in comparison to
our allotted annual budget and I will highlight
areas where we are overspending. Based on our
current spending, I will o<er suggestions on how
to cut expenses so that we are back within
budget."
Related: Setting Goals To Improve Your Career
5. Make your goal TIME-BASED
A time-based goal has a speciJc time deadline.
You’ll want to determine if your goal is a short-
term or long-term goal (or a combination of
both). From there, you can determine a timeline
and set a schedule to meet deadlines and
accomplish your objective. Your timeline should
also be realistic and allow you plenty of
opportunities to make adjustments to your goal
regarding its relevance, speciJcity and
achievability. Consider the Jnal step in the SMART
process in the following example.
Applying SMART "Time-based" criteria: "Each
month this year, I will distribute a budget report
that shows our department’s current expenses in
comparison to our allotted annual budget and I
will highlight areas where we are overspending.
Based on our current spending, I will o<er
suggestions on how to cut expenses so that we
are back within budget."
This goal now Jts all the criteria of a SMART goal
because it shows how speciJc the objective is,
outlines a way to measure progress, is achievable
and relevant to the desired outcome, and sets up
a timeline for each milestone.
SMART goals can be an e\cient and important
tool for teams when collaborating on projects.
For expert advice on how communication skills
can help you at work, please check out my video
below.
Communication Skills at Wor…
Show Transcript
Video: Communication Skills at Work:
Key Tips
In this video, Jenn, a career coach at
Indeed, discusses 4 important
questions that will help you improve
your communication skills at work.
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