5.2: Goal-setting Models

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If you do an internet search for “goal-setting models,” you will find hundreds of thousands of results. Most models use acronyms or short, catchy phrases as titles. The model we’ll use in this textbook is “SMART.” You might remember seeing the SMART acronym used for decision-making in Chapter 1 of this text. If you were do an internet search for “SMART” goal-setting, you will see several interpretations of what each letter in the acronym stands for, but we’ll be using the following definitions in this text:

Definition: SMART Goals

S=Specific

M=Measurable

A=Achievable

R=Relevant

T=Timely

A powerful goal needs to contain all of the above criteria. Your goal can be written in one, perhaps long, statement, and when your statement is read, the reader can see all of the SMART criteria in your statement.

Let’s examine each element of the acronym.

Specific means you have a detailed description of what you want to achieve. You’ve used specific and descriptive nouns, not general adjectives, in your goal statement.

Measurable means you should be able to see a difference between before achieving a goal and after. Using numbers in your goal statement ensures your goal is measurable. Those numbers might be numerals, percentages or even words like “all” or “half.”

Achievable means you believe you have the skills or abilities (or you will have them) to be able to complete the tasks necessary for the goal. Goals should be challenging so that you maintain interest but also realistic in terms of the skills and abilities you already have or plan to learn.

Relevant means the goal has meaning in your life and relates to your life roles. Someone else cannot write a powerful goal for you; only you can believe that a dream or vision works in your life.

Timely means your goal has a deadline or date by which you want to achieve the goal. If you don’t have a deadline, you may be tempted to procrastinate or put off the work needed to move toward your goal.

“A goal properly set is halfway reached.” --- Zig Ziglar

If your goal statement contains all of the SMART criteria, your goal will be motivating, and you are more likely to move forward. Plus, as you move toward achieving your goal, you will be able to see where you stand. As you make progress, you will build upon a sense of accomplishment that will strengthen you and reinforce your efforts.

If you realize you are not making progress, you will be able to analyze the reasons if you’ve included all of the SMART criteria. Perhaps you were not as specific as you could have been, or you didn’t include any measurable numbers so you cannot see any progress. Perhaps you were too ambitious and planned a goal using skills and abilities you don’t have, or perhaps you created a goal that no longer fits with your life. Maybe you didn’t give yourself enough time to achieve the goal using your current skills and abilities.