S.M.A.R.T. Goals

If you’ve been in a corporate environment before you may have heard of SMART goals. It is an acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time Bound. Companies use this to help individuals meet their career goals, or they use it to help their teams achieve goals or company goals together. For the most part, people have goals of something they want to do or have. But a lot of times people don’t think about how they are actually going to achieve these goals. With SMART goals, this helps put a structure to your goals and by putting it in a structure, you get better clarity of what the goal is and how you might achieve it. These are usually great in a work or corporate settings as there are career aspirations for people or company goals teams are trying to meet. This can also be a very great way to approach your personal goals outside the work place as well. Join this course and we'll go over each acronym and what they mean, and give some examples of how each letter would look for a certain type of goal. You’ll find by the end of the course that this is a very simple and practical new way to look at achieving your goals if you need some structure to them.

Leçon 1: S For Specific

In this first lesson we’ll talk about the first letter S which stands for specific. It’s really a simple piece to setting structure to your goals. If you have a goal in mind, just ask yourself is it specific enough? Being specific emphasizes the importance of defining goals clearly and precisely, where you try to avoid being ambiguous or being vague. Having specific goals provide clarity and focus, guiding individuals or teams towards a clear understanding of what needs to be accomplished. The "S" prompts individuals or teams to ensure that their goals are well-defined and state exactly what is to be achieved. You might have some goals in mind but you may not be sure that it is specific enough. In this lesson we'll look at some examples of good goals that are specific.

Leçon 2: M For Measurable

In this lesson we will discuss the letter M which stands for measurable. Being measurable is important because it defines clear, quantifiable criteria for tracking progress and determining when the goal has been achieved or at least moving towards completion. Measurable goals provide a solid way to assess performance and ensure accountability. In this lesson we'll discuss some examples of good measurable goals.

Leçon 3: A For Attainable

In this lesson we'll talk about A which stands for attainable. A for attainable emphasizes setting goals that are realistic and feasible given your resources, your time, and any constraints. By recognizing attainable, it ensures that the goals are challenging enough to inspire motivation, BUT not so far-fetched that they become demoralizing or unattainable. Therefore, the "A" should prompt individuals or teams to assess whether the goal is within reach and can be accomplished with the given resources and capabilities. In this lesson we'll discuss some examples of good attainable goals.

Leçon 4: R For Relevant

In this lesson we will talk about the letter R which stands for relevant. For relevant, this emphasizes that goals should be meaningful and aligned with broader objectives or priorities. R for relevant ensures that pursuing the goal will contribute positively to the overall mission, vision, or desired outcome. Therefore, the "R" prompts individuals or teams to consider whether the goal is worthwhile and relevant given the current circumstances and company objectives. In this lesson we'll discuss some examples of relevant goals.

Leçon 5: T For Time Bound

In the 5th lesson we'll discuss the last letter in the SMART acronym which stands for Time Bound. Time bound is setting something up so that there is a deadline or timeframe for achieving the goal. What this will do is that it helps create a sense of urgency and provides a clear target date for completing your goal. This makes it easier to track progress and stay motivated. In this lesson we'll discuss some examples of what time bound would look like in different goals.

Leçon 6: Putting It All Together

In the previous lessons we just discussed about each letter in the SMART acronym. In each of the lessons we discussed examples of what each letter would relate to in different types of goals. In this final lesson, we’ll put it all together with an example and then leave you to start looking at your goals in a SMART way.