SMART Goals Examples and How It Helps You Achieve Success

There’s a distinction between knowing what you want and knowing how to get it. Creating SMART goals helps you get what you want without getting overworked. This article on SMART goals examples aims to help you become efficient and self-improve on your project.

What Are SMART Goals?

SMART is an acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. Let’s break down each component to understand how these characteristics can transform your aspirations into attainable objectives.

• Specific: Begin by defining clear and concise goals. Instead of a vague aim like “lose weight,” make it specific like “lose 10 pounds in two months.” This precision provides clarity and direction.

• Measurable: Establish criteria to quantify your progress. Tangible metrics make it easier to track and evaluate your achievements. For instance, “exercise for 30 minutes five times a week” is measurable and allows for progress assessment.

• Achievable: While setting ambitious goals is admirable, they should also be realistic. Ensure that your goals are challenging yet attainable to maintain motivation and prevent discouragement.

• Relevant: Align your goals with your overall objectives and values. Consider whether the goal is worthwhile and how it fits into your broader plans. For instance, if your career goal is to become a manager, acquiring leadership skills would be relevant.

• Time-Bound: Set a deadline for your goals to create a sense of urgency. Having a timeframe encourages commitment and helps prevent procrastination. “Complete a professional development course within three months” is a time-bound goal.

How Does SMART Goals Creation Help You Achieve Success?

Without a proper approach to any job, you could end up spending a significant amount of time on the job without achieving that success you clamor. For example, when you desire to attain better communication skills, you’d need to employ the objectives of SMART goals to put together and speed up the work process. With SMART goals, you’ll realize that dealing with smaller goals is more manageable than attacking the big picture all at once.

Also,

• SMART goals help you break down your work procedures or objectives into smaller portions.

• SMART goals help you plan your day, develop new skills, and grow more naturally while staying on track with your present or future career.

• By compounding tiny improvements you make daily, SMART goals can help you get more work done throughout the day.

• SMART Goals can also indirectly assist you in developing new abilities by creating timetables and schedules that encourage active learning.

• SMART Goals can improve your work-life balance and free up more time for your family and hobbies by assuring your job’s success.

• SMART Goals help you distinguish between mediocre plans and successful professional plans.

• Creating SMART Goals help you develop personally and professionally.

Learn more: What is VRIO Framework?

SMART Goals Examples

There are diverse sectors and vocations to specify individual objectives for each. As a result, few examples may appear all-embracing because they can be applied to virtually everyone. Some other examples may need to be customized to meet your unique needs and job requirements.

Here are two SMART Goals examples that can help you achieve maximal success in your project and in fact, in your day-to-day life.

For Improving a Skill: SMART Goal Example 1

“Getting better at my job requires me to focus more on the skill. This helps me improve on this skill and makes me do the job well. I’ll then enroll in an online course on that skill for 1-3 months. This ensures my growth as a person and as an employee.”

How is this SMART goal?

S: This goal is specific because it focuses on developing a single skill. For example, deciding to learn how to use Excel is very specific.

M: To measure the goal, you can use tracking services offered online by the company you’re learning from. It helps you calculate the number of classes you’ve completed.

A: It’s highly achievable because it doesn’t take longer than required, nor does it require prior knowledge.

R: It is directly related to your work species since your personality identifies the areas that need improvement.

T: The duration here is three months. Having taken this decision, you move on to set your time constraint directly to the time scheduled for the online course. You can even move faster, but make sure to be steady.

For Improving Communication: SMART Goal Example 2

“Organize meetings with my team members twice a month. This will help us have a smooth flow of ideas and enable us to have downtime from the work activities. This will massively help the team communicate better and ensure we don’t lose track of the project.”

How is this SMART goal?

S: Its specific aim is to help the team communicate better.

M: Tracking can be done by noting the number of meetings held and the number of participants.

A: It’ll be achievable twice a month if set up for 1 hour per meeting.

R: This goal will improve team members’ communication and boost productivity.

T: The goal is scheduled to lapse by the end of one month.

The SMART goals framework ensures your goals are worth the effort. Thus, it prevents you from wasting your precious time on goals that are either irrelevant or unachievable.

Learn more: The SWOT Analysis Framework