Unlock success with SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound. They keep you on track and motivated.
Everyone has a goal, maybe more than one and big or small… Goals give you a purpose, a target to achieve and keep you focused. But setting unrealistic targets without thinking often leads to disappointment… Don’t worry, it is where SMART goals come in, as they help you focus and achieve the goal on time. So, what are SMART goals?
SMART is an acronym for the methods used to properly plan, determine the achievability and evaluate your goals. The best motivational speakers, life coaches, and management trainers suggest using SMART goals and smart goal settings at work and home to help you assess whether your aims and targets are realistic.
The SMART goal acronym means:·
To teach you better about SMART goals, you should see them in action, with real-life patterns, SMART goals examples. There are so many ways to apply SMART goals in your business life. A few SMART goals examples for work and your personal life include:
Let's break the SMART goal down:
S: Is the goal specific? Yes, you want to minimize the complaints, optimize the response time and resolve problems 5% faster in the next three months.
M: Can the goal be measured? Yes, you can track customer support tickets using your technology.
A: Is the goal achievable? Yes, you have enough staff to answer questions and solve potential problems.
R: Is the goal relevant? Yes, there is a high chance that you continue with your existing customers and attract new ones when you improve the customer experience.
T: Is the goal timely? Three months is a sufficient period of time to train the staff and monitor results.
S: The goal is specific because you aim to increase sales by 10% this quarter.
M: You can measure the success by analyzing the number of new sales contracts.
A: The company can achieve a 10% increase in sales.
R: Increased sales are relevant and should boost profit margins.
T: Three months is a reasonable period of time to expect an increase.
S: The SMART goal to improve your leadership skills within a month is specific.
M: You can measure your improvement by issuing staff with feedback forms they can anonymously fill in and return.
A: Yes, you should be able to achieve the goal by focusing on management training and spending more time with your team.
R: Being a better leader is relevant and should help improve the performance and morale of staff.
T: A month will be enough to train and start seeing an improvement in management skills.
S: Yes, the goal to reduce costs by 5% in the next three months is specific.
M: You can measure the spending by monitoring invoices and accounts.
A: Three months is okay for you to achieve your goal.
R: Cutting costs is relevant: it will increase profit margins and benefit your business.
T: Three months is sufficient time to expect a reduction in spending.
S: The SMART goal example is specific, stating the number of products to be launched and the timeframe.
M: You can measure the results by viewing the products in-store.
A: You are launching two new products a month and have room for three, so the goal is achievable.
R: Launching three new products is relevant.It gives customers more choices and increases the possibility of sales.
T: The goal is time-bound as you expect the results next month.
S: To add 500 contacts into a new database by the end of the week is specific.
M: This SMART goal can be tracked easily via the new CRM.
A: You have sufficient administration staff and time to achieve the goal.
R: The goal is relevant as you want to move your contacts to the new CRM.
T: If two staff members enter 50 contacts in the CRM daily, a week should be sufficient time to input the data.
S: Increasing online product awareness by 25% this quarter is specific.
M: You can evaluate the results by following sales and engagement on your social media platforms, such as Meta and LinkedIn.
A: Based on past results, promoting the product on platforms and sharing posts daily can make you achieve the SMART goal.
R: The goal is relevant as it should increase sales and brand awareness.
T: Yes, three months is a realistic time to achieve a 25% increase in product awareness online.
S: Your goal is specific: You want to increase the number of subscribers to your website within a month.
M: You can measure the number of new contacts easily online.
A: Planning to have a digital advertising campaign that directs potential customers to your site can get you to your goal.
R: Attracting new website subscribers is relevant because it increases your database of potential customers.
T: A month is enough time as it will coincide with your advertising efforts.
S: Yes, reducing site load time by 8% is specific.
M: The IT department can measure the improvement using your load time analysis software.
A: The goal is achievable because you have an IT department with the tools and knowledge to make the goal happen.
R: Reducing load time is relevant and will significantly improve your customer online purchase experience.
T: According to the IT department, a month should be sufficient time to write the code necessary and see an 8% reduction in load time.
S: To develop a basic understanding of Spanish within a year is specific.
M: You plan to take online lessons weekly and download simple apps to practice more.
A: If you attend the classes, do your homework, and try to speak Spanish, having a basic level of Spanish within a year is achievable for you.
R: Learning Spanish is relevant since you plan to spend time with a friend in Madrid.
T: A year would be ideal and realistic to learn basic Spanish and be able to have everyday conversations.
Setting SMART goals is one of the goal-setting tips and techniques that our motivational speakers always suggest will have a good influence on your personal and professional life. Now it's over to you!