S -M-A-R-T Goals

1. S-M-A-R-T Goals Specific:To set a specific goal you must answer the six “W” questions: • *Who:      Who is involved? • *What:     What do I (we) want to accomplish? • *Where:    Identify a location. • *When:     Establish a time frame. • *Which:    Identify requirements and constraints. • *Why:      Specific reasons, purpose or benefits of accomplishing the goal. • EXAMPLE:  A general goal would be, “Get in shape.” But a specific goal would say, “Join a health club and workout 3 days a week.” Chapter 4 Lesson 1

2. S-M-A-R-T Goals Measurable -Establish concrete criteria for measuring progress toward the attainment of each goal you or your team set. • When you measure progress, stay on track, reach target dates, something happens, you and your team experience the exhilaration of achievement that is required to reach all goals. • To determine if your goal is measurable, ask questions such as…… • How much? How many? • How will I know when it is accomplished? Chapter 4 Lesson 1

3. S-M-A-R-T Goals • Attainable – When you identify goals that are most important, you or your team figure out ways that make them a reality. You develop attitudes, abilities, skills, and the finances to reach them. You or your team begin seeing previously overlooked opportunities and begin using them to accomplish goals. • Anyone can attain almost any goal when steps are built and time frames are established. Goals that seemed far away, eventually move closer and become attainable, not because goals shrink but because people grow and expand to match them. When you list personal goals, it builds self-image. Once you see yourself worthy of these goals, you develop the traits and personality that allow you to possess them. • Agreed – when building team goals they must be agreed upon by the group. If you don’t have buy-in…it’s a fight. Chapter 4 Lesson 1

4. S-M-A-R-T Goals • Realistic- To be realistic, a goal must represent an objective toward which you are both willing and able to work. Do not establish unrealistic goals. Goals that belong in la-la land only cause frustration as you or your team miss the mark every time. • Your goal is probably realistic if you truly believe that it can be accomplished. Additional ways to know if your goal is realistic is to determine if you have accomplished anything similar in the past or ask yourself what conditions have to exist to accomplish them. • Relevant- Goals must be relevant to the mission, if not scrap them Chapter 4 Lesson 1

5. S-M-A-R-T Goals • Timely – A goal should be grounded within a time frame. With no time frame tied to it there’s no sense of urgency. If you want to lose 10 lbs, when do you want to lose it by? “Someday” won’t work. But if you anchor it within a timeframe, “by May 1st”, then you’ve set your unconscious mind into motion to begin working on the goal. • T can also stand for Tangible – A goal is tangible when you can experience it with one of the senses, that is, taste, touch, smell, sight or hearing. • When your goal is tangible you have a better chance of making it specific and measurable and thus attainable. Chapter 4 Lesson 1