We want to do things so we make a goal but never achieve what we set out to achieve. This is usually because the goals we set for ourselves sound unachievable, difficult or take too long. However, there is a technique to get around this issue. It is called the SMART method. This is a 6-step method but there is a step that cannot be ignored and must be completed first!
Write it down
Studies prove that people are more likely to implement their goals when they’ve written them down. Better yet, people are even more likely to complete their goals when they’ve written it down and made people publicly aware of their goals!
This has to do with the power of commitment. Commitments are stronger when they are visible and public.
Specific
Goals need to be specific otherwise we struggle to make a start and get lost on the way. A specific goal provides us with the small steps and a clear direction on what we want.
- “I want to be successful” is a vague goal.
- “I want to be a leader working for a multi-million-pound tech firm” is more specific
- “I want to lead a new AI project for Microsoft” is specific.
Measurable
You can’t manage what you can’t measure
Peter Drucker
Although I would use the word improve instead of manage, Peter Drucker’s statement holds true. Without measurement you have no idea what your performance is. This is why goals needs to be broken down into milestones or key achievements. There needs to be long-term and short-term measurable targets. For example:
- “I will lead a new AI project for Microsoft” is a long-term goal.
- “I will apply to work for Microsoft as a Project Leader” is a short-term goal.
These goals are measurable. You either did it or you didn’t.
Attainable
Dreams are great yes. But don’t get sucked into the fantasy that you need to have a dream first. Not everyone does, yet. It’s perfectly ok to set off on a path and find out what you love doing later. Your goals can be tweaked as you go and as you grow. But to make it more doable write down goals that are bold yet realistic. For example:
If you are to get your job for Microsoft, it is unlikely that you will become the CEO within 1 year. But your passion for may lead to ground-breaking AI projects makes securing a Project Leader position at Microsoft attainable. A longer-term plan may help you move towards a goal of becoming CEO.
Relevant
Make your goals relevant to your targets. For example, if your dream is to become a leader within Microsoft a year, don’t apply to a retail store. If you need experience within a certain area then look there. For example, do work experience or part-time in an AI company to learn about the systems and technology. This way you can gain an understanding in the field.
Time-based
Parkinson’s Law teaches us that, no matter the task, we will allow ourselves to make that task fill the allotted time given to do that task. So, in simplistic terms, if we give ourselves 3 hours to check our emails, we will take 3 hours to check our emails. But if we only allowed 1 hour, we would take 1 hour.
This is why goals need to be bound by time. Otherwise we would never achieve them. Make it easy by setting short-term goals to achieve medium-term goals to achieve long-term goals. Time restrictions create panic and draw attention to completing our goals. For example:
- “I will apply to Microsoft’s AI department within 2 weeks” is a short-term goal.
- “I will propose a new ground-breaking project to Microsoft within 6 months of working there” is a medium-term goal.
- “I will lead a ground-breaking AI project which could change the course of agriculture for Microsoft within 2 years” is a long-term goal.
I will be writing shortly on how to make a goal plan so subscribe if you are interested on learning more!
How to reference this article
- Toor, J. (2019). How to use SMART goals? Available: https://pmgrowth.co/how-to-use-smart-goals?/