Many coaches and consultants use the S.M.A.R.T acronym to help clients set goals. You may find slight variations for what SMART stands for, but simply put the S-stands for specific, M-stands for MEASURABLE, A-stands for ATTAINABLE, R-stands for REALISTIC, and T-stands for TIMELY.

It is also important to note the difference between goals and objectives. Goals are broader in nature, whereas objectives are the smaller goals that will help you accomplish the larger goal.

The first two letters in smart are especially important. They really establish what's going to be accomplished.

SPECIFIC

The S for specific reminds you to really spell out what you're planning to do. An example of a non-specific goal would be to "Increase our customer base". A better and more specific goal would be “To increase customer base by 50%” or “Gain 40 additional customers each month”. If you can break down this goal into smaller objectives, that's even more helpful. For instance, one of the objectives for this goal might be “To attract 25% of new customers through referrals”. By setting a specific goal with a even more specific objective, you've just identified the need for referral program if there isn't one in place. As you continue to break down your goals and objectives you are also outlining the steps in accomplishing your goal.

MEASURABLE

Just as important as being specific, is the need for your goal to be measurable. After all, how can you check your progress if you have no way to measure it. An example of a goal that is difficult to measure would be "Better meet the needs of our customer". While this is a great goal, left as-is there is no metric for determining whether this goal was met. A better goal would be "To score 90% or more on all customer feedback scorecards". By having a measurement tem in place, you will know by how much you exceeded or fell short of your goal. You will find this info good for setting future goals.

ATTAINABLE

The A in SMART stands for attainable. Your goal should be a stretch, but should also be within reach. While it would be great to increase your customer base by 700%, this is not something that's easily done. Setting goals that are too hard to reach often ends in failure. The purpose of setting goals is to be successful, which helps to maintain motivation. So keep this in mind when shooting for the stars.

REALISTIC

The R stands for realistic. Simply put, this means do-able. Do you have the resources, tools, and ss to accomplish the goals set forth. For example, if you don't have the resources to acquire customer feedback score cards, nor the time or patience to review and capture the results, then perhaps you shouldn't set goals based on scores from customer feedback cards. Goals should test your dedication, but not exceed your ability.

TIMELY

Lastly, the T stands for timely. You should always put and endpoint on your goal. A clear target is easier to work towards, and like the “S” and the “M” it can also help you define objectives. So if you've set a goal for 40 new customers a month, then you might find it easier to set an objective of five new customers a week. The smaller the time frame, the easier it is to track progress and adjust efforts as necessary. Having a timeline associated with your goals prevents procrastination and promotes urgency.

Just as important as it is to set goals, its equally- if not more important - to check your progress. Some have added an “E” and “R” are to SMART to make SMARTER, which stands for evaluate and re-evaluate. Staying on top of your progress helps ensure success. We hope that you will remember this acronym as you set your goals for the coming year. We also invite you to e-mail us and let us know some of the goals you've set and how you're progressing with them. You can reach us readysetempowerme@gmail.com .