SMART is an acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-Based. It is a framework used to create carefully planned, clear and traceable goals. When setting objectives, it is important to be as clear and specific as possible. The more limited the goal is, the easier it is to understand the steps necessary to achieve it.
SMART objectives are used in strategic planning to develop concrete, performance-oriented business objectives over a defined period. These 10 examples of SMART goal setting demonstrate how you can create powerful personal, business, work and leadership goals. For instance, if you are starting a dropshipping business with Shopify on Saturday, you can set a goal to devote 1 hour each day to this business and work to get your first sale in two weeks. Additionally, you can start a Facebook Ads course tomorrow and start investing 30% of your company's profits in paid campaigns in 1 week.
You can also continue to learn and invest in Facebook Ads to double your sales in 3 months. If you want to get your dream job working for a SaaS company like Shopify and travel long term as a digital nomad, you can set a goal to apply for 1 job per week for 2 months by submitting a total of 8 job applications. Once you have decided on your SMART goals, put them in a format that makes it easy to review, update and use the instructions. Using a strategic planning tool such as Workfront Goals can ensure that your OKRs are SMART, effectively tracked and aligned with your organization's strategic objectives.
It is important to approach SMART goal writing with a positive attitude while being realistic at the same time. Smartsheet is a cloud-based platform that enables teams and organizations to plan, manage and report on work, helping you move faster and achieve your goals. By dividing long-term goals into small parts and each “part” with a limited time is a key part of the path to the final goal, SMART can work well to achieve long-term goals. Both goal setting frameworks provide criteria and a methodology for developing objectives, and both methods address each element of the acronym SMART. Here's an easy-to-use SMART goal template in Word, along with a template to help you plan and manage your goals in Smartsheet.
Objectives should be within reach of your team or program, taking into account available resources, knowledge and time. When it comes to writing SMART goals, be prepared to ask yourself and the other team members a lot of questions. You should also consider whether an objective is relevant or important to the team and other stakeholders.
