SMART Goals Guide Summary
Overview of SMART Goals
Definition: Statements of key accomplishment results designed to foster clear and mutual understanding of expected performance standards and successful professional development between managers and employees.
Purpose: Focus attention and resources on core priorities across ongoing day-to-day job responsibilities and cycle-specific initiatives.
Common Types of Goals:
Increase something
Make something
Improve something
Reduce something
Save something
Develop someone (yourself or direct reports)
SMART Criteria Breakdown
Specific: Establishes a clear mission statement for the goal by addressing key detailed questions:
Who: Identifies who needs to be involved, particularly for group or cross-departmental projects.
What: Defines exact accomplishments without vagueness.
When: Sets initial timeframes prior to establishing fixed deadlines.
Where: Pinpoints specific locations or relevant events when applicable.
Which: Outlines related obstacles, requirements, or prerequisites to determine feasibility.
Why: Explains the underlying purpose, such as company advancement or career development.
Action Verbs: Utilizes specific action-oriented verbs (e.g., Oversee, Coordinate, Implement, Produce, Evaluate, Administer, Reconcile, Manage, Create) rather than directional verbs (increase, improve, reduce) which describe direction rather than specific actions.
Measurable: Provides quantitative or qualitative metrics and data collection methods to monitor progress and verify completion.
Indicators: Direct or indirect indicators defining what success looks like.
Measurement Types:
Quantitative: Productivity results, revenue generated, or money saved/earned.
Qualitative: Client testimonials, customer satisfaction surveys, or quality audits.
Data Types & Methods: Includes quality rates (audits/tests), amounts produced (work samples), revenue (financial reports), and customer satisfaction (surveys).
Milestones: Incremental steps for longer projects to ensure progress remains on track.
Achievable: Ensures goals inspire motivation rather than discouragement by verifying targets are doable.
Assesses whether existing skills, tools, and resources are available or can be acquired.
Encourages developing new competencies, setting aside dedicated practice time, or obtaining external guidance and training.
Relevant: Guarantees alignment with broader department, division, and organizational objectives.
Ensures chosen initiatives match current organizational priorities rather than unaligned tasks.
Time-Bound: Imposes target dates and time constraints to establish accountability and urgency.
Defines specific deadlines and mid-way deliverables to assess progress throughout the project cycle.
Scope and Goal Setting Strategy
Identifying Responsibility Buckets:
Review total job responsibilities and identify broad operational areas or "buckets" of results.
Draft high-level outcome-focused goal statements for each bucket rather than listing task-oriented activities.
Balance goals to encompass core outcomes while remaining specific enough to measure.
Managing Goal Scope:
Include both ongoing day-to-day responsibilities and cycle-specific projects or initiatives.
Avoid creating too many low-level, task-oriented goals; consolidate task lists into broader outcome areas when goals become excessive.
Goal Categories and Writing Process
Types of SMART Goals:
Ongoing Goals: Standard operational performance (e.g., monthly financial reconciliations, continuous customer service standard compliance).
New Project / Cycle-Specific Goals: Targeted deliverables for a specific performance cycle (e.g., launching a new app, implementing updated system processes).
Development Goals: Personal skill enhancement and career growth (e.g., mastering software applications, completing professional credential coursework).
Consolidation Formula:
Draft an initial goal statement.
Answer the specific criteria questions for S, M, A, R, and T.
Combine answers into a comprehensive summary statement with explicit descriptions, milestones, and final deadlines.