Goal Setting has, for many managers, been a regular source of frustration. Getting others to understand what is required of them or simply to be able to communicate exactly where that manger is taking the business.

The need for well-articulated goals is paramount in any improvement or change journey. Therefore we need to have a robust tool that drives us to achieve just that.

SMART objectives setting is one tool that is relatively well known and, in my experience, works very well when applied correctly.

So, let me first describe what a SMART objective looks like.

A SMART Objective will be:-

Specific – a full and complete description of the end goal, what it will actually look like.

Measureable – a measure that can be used to measure progress as well as completion (how you will know when you have got there)

Achievable – a goal that can be achieved, even if the how is not fully available to you right now

Realistic – you have, or will have, the resources available to you to achieve the goal

Time bound – an end date, and perhaps milestones with clear dates upon them

Now let us look at the mechanics of each of these stages and how they are applied.

Specific: engaging as many of the senses as possible to describe what attainment of the goal or objective will look and feel like. Use of pictures will help along with other media that ensures that the goal is clearly understood. If using to engage other people in say, setting objectives, then getting that person to articulate that vision back to you serves to ensure understanding.

Measureable: a measure, or set of measures, that can be used to track progress and completion of the objective. The measure must be such that it forms part of the description of the objective. The measure will normally be numeric, but it is also OK for the measure to be a descriptor where numerical values do not work. 

Achievable: an objective that can be achieved provided it is fully facilitated with the required resources. Normally, but not exclusively, things like finance, time, manpower, equipment, skills/training and work scheduling activities. Even an objective set for ourselves will need consideration for these resources.

Realistic: a realistic objective is one that you consider is achievable will have the resources made available over time and that you fervently believe you have the capability to achieve.

Time Bound: a goal or objective without a time on it is little more than a dream. Timings can include stage completion, which along with the measureable, provides a sub-goal (milestone), that need to be completed on the journey towards the final end objective. Many larger objectives are managed in this way to ensure steady progress towards the overall goal.

At the end of the day, spending time planning how goals and objectives are to be achieved saves valuable time in the long run.