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Goal Setting: SMART Goals And Objectives plus an Action Plan

Goal setting is the logical and systematic process of achieving goals. Personal goals separate the achievers from the mere dreamers. Everyone has goals and objectives, but not everyone has the right goals; that is, SMART goals.

Almost everyone associates a deadline with his goals, but only a few have action plans to go with these short term goals. It’s no wonder then that only a few people achieve measurable goals. If you want to accomplish your personal goals or career goals, learn goal setting first.

The Goal Setting Process

“Without goals, and plans to reach them, you are like a ship that sets sail with no destination.” - Fitzhugh Dodson

Goal setting is the process of setting and achieving goals. There are two main stages to the goal setting process. The first stage is goal selection. This is the process of identifying your goals and objectives.

Ask yourself what goals you want to achieve. Then check these goals against the SMART criteria. We’ll talk more about SMART goals later.

The second stage is action plan creation. Now that you know where you’re going, you have to determine how to get there. The action plan is like a map. Through your action plan, you’ll know the way to your goals.

Setting SMART Goals: How to Set Goals

The first step in goal setting is identifying your goals. Stephen Covey suggests a great starting point when goal setting. In his book, the 7 Habits of Effective People, he says you should imagine yourself dead. At the day of your funeral, what do you want your friends and loved ones to say about you?

Your answer comprises your life goals. These are your overarching goals or the things you really want to achieve in your lifetime. Covey’s method will help you realize and clarify what you want out of your life.

Life goals are so big they tend to overwhelm, however. You should break them down into smaller goals. Let’s say one of your life goals is to be the best parent to your children. The next step is to identify the smaller goals that will help you achieve this life goal.

Becoming the best parent means providing for your children’s material and emotional needs. Now, you can put your material wealth goals in their proper perspective. Neglecting your family because you’re so focused on getting rich is actually going against your ultimate life goals.

Setting SMART goals is next. Break down your life goals into smaller and smaller goals until they fit the SMART criteria. Your objective at this point is to come up with a list of goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Bound.

Let’s go back to the example given above. Remember that one of your life goals is to be a good parent to your children. Becoming materially well-off is a key component of this goal. Now break this component down into smaller goals.

• Let’s say you want to be President of your company so you’ll have enough income to support your family. The next step is to check this goal against the SMART criteria. Is this goal specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound? It is specific, of course, since it is clear what you want to achieve. It has a measurable outcome, too.
• If you become President, you succeed. If you don’t become President, you fail. It can be time bound. You simply have to give yourself a deadline.
• Finally, is it attainable? That is a question you should spend a lot of time on. Be honest. Do you really have the skills and the talent to achieve this feat? If yes, then proceed to create a goal action plan that you will use to attain your goal.

Creating an Action Plan: How to Achieve Goals

After identifying your goals, draw up a plan that will guide you in achieving your goals. The first step to creating an action plan is creating a timeline. The goal of becoming company president in 30 years is a long-term goal, obviously. What do you need to do within this 30-year period so you will be company president when it ends?

Break down your long-term goals into short-term goals. This step involves answering a series of questions. What do you need to achieve 20 years from today to achieve your 30^th year goal? What do you need to achieve in 10 years to achieve your 20^th year goal?

What do you need to achieve in 5 years to achieve your 10^th year goal? What do you need to achieve 3 years, 2 years, 1 year, or 6 months from today to achieve your 5^th year goal? After creating your timeline, evaluate the short-term goals you’ve identified. Check them all against the SMART goals criteria and adjust them as needed.

Tasking is the next step in action plan creation. Start by creating task lists for each of your short-term goals. Begin from the nearest goal or the goal with the shortest deadline. Let’s say your 6^th month goal is to be head of a company project. Your tasks can include hunting up and actively pursuing new projects.

It can also include actively participating in meetings and coming up with ingenuous strategies. Coming to work regularly and completing assigned tasks on time should also be part of your task list. Ultimately, you want to be noticed and be so good at your job that you will be given more responsibilities and, in 6 months’ time, be allowed to head a project.

Conclusion on Goal Setting

Goal setting is not a one-shot deal. You should constantly evaluate and reevaluate your goals and plans and adjust them when necessary. If you fail to complete the tasks you’ve set for yourself in your action plan and failed to achieve a short-term goal, don’t give up. Adjust your plan and goals instead. That’s smart goal setting for you. Keep at it and, soon enough, you’ll see your dreams coming true.

The previous article is on Nurturing a Burning Desire.

Other wiki resources: personal development; goal setting; getting things done; cause and effect; creative visualization