Goal Setting

What is a SMART GOAL?

Many people set goals for themselves for their fitness, career, or life. They can be short or long-term, but they are vital to helping you find a sense of direction, maintaining a clear focus, and motivating you toward accomplishing things in your life that are important to you. When you set a goal, you're giving yourself a target that you'll aim for.

To assist you with setting your goals, you might want to explore a SMART goal. You can use this tool to help you figure out your goal setting, ensuring that they're reachable and clear.

Read on for more information on how to use SMART goals when career building and growing your business.

What is a smart goal definition

• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable
• Relevant
• Timely

By using these criteria when goal setting, you're able to focus your efforts on that specific target, increasing your chances of being successful.

Specific

Your goal needs to be specific to be effective. If it isn't clear, you won't feel motivated to hit your goal. Think about these things when honing in on the details:

• Who will be involved?
• Where will I achieve this goal?
• What is it that I want to accomplish?
• When will I achieve this goal?
• Why is it important?

A general goal would be wanting to get into healthier shape. If you say, "I want to run four days a week for at least 30 minutes a day," that makes it more specific.

Measurable

You need to be able to track your progress to stay motivated. Assess your progress along the way to stay focused, meeting deadlines, and feel excited as you get closer to achieving your goal. Set periodic milestones for yourself that will keep you on the path to achieving your larger goal.

Achievable

Your goal needs to be attainable and achievable. You should feel challenged while working toward your goal, but not so much that it will deter you. Think about if you have the resources to complete the goal and if other people have done it as well. 

Relevant

The goal you set needs to be relevant or realistic to you. It's important that it matters to you and aligns with other goals you have. When considering if your goal is relevant, consider the following things:

• Is this the right time to achieve this goal?
• Does it align with our other needs/efforts?
• Is it worthwhile?
• Is it applicable to the world's current environment?

Timely

Your goal needs a target date or time for completion. Having a deadline will give you something to work toward and focus on. This prevents your everyday to-dos from taking priority over your long-term goals. 

Set a SMART Goal to Further Your Career

Goal setting is an intricate component in moving yourself along your career path. Setting a SMART goal helps you hone in on what it is you want to achieve. You won't be moving aimlessly through your career when you have specific milestones in mind.

For more information on how to grow your business, check out one of our other articles. If you would like to learn more about how you can accelerate your career with our coaching services please feel free to get in touch . Whether you want to build on your current success, or seek support in dealing with a priority growth opportunity, we've got your back!