I am going to start by saying I’m sorry. Around this time of year I start thinking that if I hear one more person go on and on about SMART goals I think I am going to cry. However, I have some future posts planned that refer to SMART goals so I thought I would start with a post talking about what they are and how they came about. I will try to keep it short.
While the credit for SMART goals has been mostly attributed to Peter Drucker, George T. Doran was the first to actually use the term in his article There’s a S.M.A.R.T. way to write management’s goals and objectives published in the November 1981 issue of Management Review.
So what does S.M.A.R.T. stand for? Well that all depends on who’s talking!
S stands for SPECIFIC, or significant, or stretching, or sustainable, or simple.
M stands for MEASURABLE, or meaningful, or manageable, or motivational.
A stands for ATTAINABLE, or actionable, or achievable or ambitious or appropriate or assignable.
R stands for REALISTIC or relevant or results-based or reasonable.
T stands for TIMED or trackable or tangible or timely.
Then or course, for just a few extra letters you can set goals SMARTER.
E stands for EVALUATE or enjoyable or engaging or even ecological.
R stands for REEVALUATE or recorded or reaching or rewarded.
So do you find SMART goals helpful? What about SMARTER goals? Is there any tool that you use to help you with your goal setting?