Goals & Objectives Should Be SMARTER
Goal setting is a key element to building a high-quality Hallmark program. Brush up on your goal-setting skills by ensuring your goals are SMARTER.
SMARTER is an acronym-that is, a word composed by joining letters from different words in a phrase or set of words. In this case, a SMARTER goal or objective is:
Specific, simple:
If a person sets a goal to "Work harder," it's too general to know
exactly how to proceed. It's easier to recognize what to do with a
narrower, more specific and clear goal such as "Write a paper." In
this case, "simple" does not mean "easy" - it means "clear and
understandable."
Measurable:
It's difficult to know what the scope of "Writing a paper" really is -
the goal is still too vague. How will they know when they have completed
the goal fully? A person needs to know more about what's involved:
"Write a 30-page paper." This is one way of measuring completeness - a
goal could have multiple measures that determine when it is complete.
Accepted, accountable:
The person who is responsible for the goal should be involved with
setting the goal so that there is "buy-in" and full understanding and
acceptance. In the example of the paper, the person who will write it
could be involved in determining the topic and organization, and perhaps
in setting the deadline for it.
Realistic, resources are adequate:
The person or people responsible must also have the resources
necessary for completion of the goal.
Time frame:
It must be the right time to work on the goal. There must be adequate
time to complete the goal successfully with a quality product, and the
time involved should be organized appropriately. If the goal is to "Write
a 30-page paper in the final month of class," it will be useful, particularly
to others assisting with the goal, to specify that a section should be
completed each week, rather than leaving open the possibility that the
whole paper will be written on the last day of the month.
Extending:
The goal should stretch the performer's capabilities or make a
significant contribution to the mission and purpose of the organization.
It's boring and can seem purposeless if it doesn't (and the "A"-
acceptance and accountability - criteria will suffer too).
Rewarding:
A person should know what it will mean and what will result from a
full effort in completing the goal.
