SMART goals
SMART goals are a way of formulating goals so that they are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound.
Definition
The SMART model helps turn a general intention into an actionable and verifiable goal. The most common abbreviations are: specific, measurable, achievable or attainable, relevant or realistic and time-bound. It's an organizational tool, not a guarantee of success - it works best when the goal is linked to values, resources and regular review of progress.
Key ideas
- Concreteization of intention
- Measurement and deadline
- Resource realism
Practice and life
Rewrite the general intention in the format: what exactly I will do, how many times, by when, why and how I will check the result.
Common misconceptions
It's a mistake to create a goal that looks professional but has no real place on the calendar. A common mistake is also focusing on the metric instead of meaningful behavior.
> A good goal doesn't have to be impressive - it has to be so clear that you can take the first step.
> — Guru Element
Questions for self-reflection
- Is the goal specific or does it just sound ambitious?
- How will I measure progress without fooling myself?
- Do I have the resources to get started this week?