SMART Goals

30 Min

SMART is an approach to actionable goal definition. It is an acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely.

USE CASES

Whether goals are eventually SMART or not is dependent on how teams choose to define them.

SMART Goals | DecisionSkills

The key goals for the team should be mapped at the top. Each goal should then be viewed through the five SMART lenses.
‘Specific’ is the box in which to clearly define the core focus of the goal.
‘Measurable’ focuses on metrics that help track progress towards the goal.
‘Achievable’ should describe feasible results and actions that can help achieve the goal.
‘Relevant’ is to describe why the goal is relevant for the team, and how so.
‘Time-bound’ defines time constraints — short and long term, for achieving the goal.
A revision of goals can be made based on a team's learnings from the mapping of the SMART lenses.

Pick a goal or set of goals: Take the goals in your Activity Plan and use this worksheet to clarify them.
Clarify: Define each goal through the five lenses in the left column.
Get buy-in: Discuss what SMART goals mean for the team.

At the start: Help participants think through the way they are defining goals. Use previously completed activity planning or roadmapping to guide discussion.
During the exercise: Help participants formulate SMART goals, and identify challenges in meeting them.
At the close: Have participants share goals to make sure everyone is on the same page.

How do you set goals in your team?
How would SMART goals be different from what you have been doing?
What goals or milestones have you identified so far? Are there any other shorter-term goals to address?
How achievable are your goals? Do you have the right resources (staff, time, money) to pull them off?
How do these goals map to your overall strategy as a business or organisation?