What are SMART goals?

SMART is an acronym that stands

for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-based. Each element of
the SMART framework works together to create a goal that is carefully planned,
clear and trackable.
You may have set goals in your past that were difficult to achieve because they
were too vague, aggressive or poorly framed. Working toward a poorly-crafted
goal can feel daunting and unachievable. Creating SMART goals can help solve
these problems. Whether you’re setting personal or professional goals, using the
SMART goal framework can establish a strong foundation for achieving success.
Below, we’ll demonstrate how to turn a goal like “I want to be in leadership” into
a SMART goal.

S = Specific
Be as clear and specific as possible with what you want to achieve. The more
narrow your goal, the more you’ll understand the steps necessary to achieve it.
Example: “I want to earn a position managing a development team for a startup
tech company.”

M = Measurable
What evidence will prove you’re making progress toward your goal? For example,
if your goal is to earn a position managing a development team for a startup tech
company, you might measure progress by the number of management positions
you’ve applied for and the number of interviews you’ve completed. Setting
milestones along the way will give you the opportunity to re-evaluate and course-
correct as needed. When you achieve your milestones, remember to reward
yourself in small but meaningful ways.
Example: “I will apply to three open positions for the manager of a development
team at a tech startup.”
A = Achievable
Have you set an achievable goal? Setting goals you can reasonably accomplish
within a certain timeframe will help keep you motivated and focused. Using the
above example of earning a job managing a development team, you should know
the credentials, experience and skills necessary to earn a leadership position.
Before you begin working toward a goal, decide whether it’s something you can
achieve now or whether there are additional preliminary steps you should take to
become better prepared.
Example: “I will update my resume with relevant qualifications, so I can apply to
three open positions for the manager of a development team at a tech startup.”

R = Relevant
When setting goals for yourself, consider whether or not they are relevant. Each
of your goals should align with your values and larger, long-term goals. If a goal
doesn’t contribute toward your broader objectives, you might rethink it. Ask
yourself why the goal is important to you, how achieving it will help you and how
it will contribute toward your long-term goals.
Example: “To achieve my goal of being in leadership, I will update my resume
with relevant qualifications so I can apply to three open positions for the manager
of a development team at a tech startup.”

T = Time-based
What is your goal time-frame? An end-date can help provide motivation and help
you prioritize. For example, if your goal is to earn a promotion to a more senior
position, you might give yourself six months. If you haven’t achieved your goal in
that timeframe, take time to consider why. Your timeframe might have been
unrealistic, you might have run into unexpected roadblocks or your goal might
have been unachievable.
Example: “To achieve my goal of being in leadership, I will update my resume with
relevant qualifications so I can apply to three open positions for the manager of a
development team at a tech startup this week.”
Why should I use SMART goals?
Using the SMART goal framework sets boundaries and defines the steps you’ll
need to take, resources necessary to get there and milestones that indicate
progress along the way. With SMART goals, you’re more likely to achieve your
goal efficiently and effectively.
Here are a few examples of how SMART goals can benefit people in different
circumstances:
 Laura would like to change careers from customer support to design…
 Avi knows that his goal is to become a sales manager but he’s not sure
where to begin…
 Tonya wants to get a job in the healthcare industry but doesn’t have
industry experience…
Related: 5 Ways to Achieve Goals in the Workplace

Examples of SMART goals

Here are two smart goal examples:
Example 1
I will obtain a job as a high school math teacher within three months after
graduating with my Bachelor of Science in Education.
 Specific: The goal of becoming a high school math teacher is well-defined
 Measurable: Success can be measured by the number of applications,
interviews and job offers.
 Achievable: The goal setter will have the appropriate degree for the job.
 Relevant: The goal setter is planning to get a job in the education industry
after getting an education degree.
 Time-based: The goal setter has set a deadline to achieve their objective
within the three months following graduation.
Example 2
I will earn a promotion to senior customer service representative by completing
the required training modules in three months and applying for the role at the end
of next quarter.
 Specific: The goal setter has clearly set the objective to be promoted to
senior customer services rep.
 Measurable: Success can be measured by training module completion,
filing the application and earning the promotion.
 Achievable: The goal setter will complete the training necessary to earn the
promotion.
 Relevant: The goal setter is planning to apply for the promotion after
finishing their training modules.
 Time-based: The goal setter has set a deadline to achieve their objective at
the end of the following business quarter.
Setting SMART goals can help you move forward in your career and achieve the
success you want. While goals can be challenging, using the SMART framework
can organize the process and provide structure before you begin.

How to Write A SMART Goal (And How They Work)

By Indeed Editorial Team
February 23, 2021

Whenever you create a goal, it's important to make an achievable one. As you make your next goal,
consider creating a SMART goal instead. Not only will it be more attainable, but it'll also keep you
focused on your aspirations, help you stay on track, make sure the goal is relevant to your other goals
and more. In this article, we define what a SMART goal is and provide you with the steps to take in
creating your own.
Related: 10 Tips for Being More Goal-Oriented at Work

What is a SMART goal?

A SMART goal refers to a person's aim to achieve their desired result using a particular set of criteria.
This framework will help you write goals that are more impactful and attainable. SMART stands for the
following terms:

 Specific: What do you want to be accomplished and what will you do to achieve this goal? This
involves being specific with every part of your SMART goal.

 Measurable: What data will be used for goal measuring? Making your goal measurable will help
you track your progress.

 Achievable: Is achieving this goal possible? Making your goal attainable ensures its success.

 Relevant: Why is this goal important? Making sure your goal is relevant ensures it relates to
your other broad or rather, ultimate goals.

 Time-bound: When does the goal need to be completed? This takes into account the time
period that this goal needs to be achieved.

Having a SMART goal means using each of these terms to create a particular goal. When you create
goals without keeping these criteria in mind, there's a greater chance of not meeting these aspirations.

Related: SMART Goals: Definition and Examples

How to write a SMART goal

Here are the steps to follow when writing a SMART goal:

1. Consider the type of goal.

2. Make it specific.

3. Make it measurable.

4. Make it achievable.

5. Make it relevant.

6. Make it time-bound.

1. Consider the type of goal

Before you start writing your goal, it's important to consider the type of goal you're wanting to attain.
Consider whether you want to make something, improve something, save something, reduce something
or anything else of a similar nature. This will help narrow down what it is exactly that you're hoping to
achieve.
2. Make it specific
Following the guidelines of a SMART goal, start by making your goal specific. Ask yourself who will be
involved in order to achieve the goal, what you want to accomplish, what requirements will need to be
met before you start toward your goal, why you want to achieve this goal and more. If it's applicable,
consider a relevant location associated with your goal. Though the timeframe will be explained in a later
step, it's a good idea to start thinking of a goal completion date, as well.

3. Make it measurable
Next, consider how you'll determine whether or not the goal was met. This step will help you measure
your progress and ultimately ascertain how you will define success in relation to this goal. Some forms of
measurement you could potentially use include customer satisfaction surveys or quality reports.

4. Make it achievable
Your SMART goal should also be achievable. This means it'll need to be attainable. For some of your
goals to be attainable, you might need to learn new skills or consider its overall timeline. Consider the
tools or skills you'll need for your goal, whether or not you have them and what it'll take to attain them.

5. Make it relevant
When you write a SMART goal, it's important that it's relevant to a larger, overarching goal. This ensures
it wasn't wasted time. For example, if you're trying to increase marketing efforts, you should make sure
this is in alignment with others in your department and the company's goals overall.

6. Make it time-bound
Lastly, make sure your goal is time-bound. In other words, you should be mindful of the time you'll need
to achieve it by. Consider a date and determine whether or not you think the goal will be able to be
accomplished by then. It can be helpful to pinpoint certain tasks that you'll want to achieve at certain
points within your timeline.

Related: Setting Goals to Improve Your Career

Advantages
SMART goals present various advantages. For starters, they're not vague. Whereas most goals people
make aren't very descriptive, SMART goals are specific, which ultimately helps increase their odds of
being achieved. Also, SMART goals incorporate your plans. This helps you achieve your goal since you'll
already know the next steps to take. Since SMART goals require some form of measurement, they also
provide you with the opportunity to track your progress. If you miss a small deadline within your overall
goal deadline, you'll not only know, but you'll also have time to get back on track.

Disadvantages
Though SMART goals are very advantageous, they also pose some disadvantages. For example, because
your goal will be well-planned out, it could lead you to become obsessed with completing your goal by a
certain deadline. Also, it could make you crave more achievements in the future and could potentially
set you up for a continuous cycle of wanting to achieve goal after goal. For some, SMART goal making
could be overly ambitious.

Examples
Here are two examples of SMART goals:
Example 1

Let's say you want to find a new job in the near future. You've determined that your ultimate SMART
goal is to gain new employment at a marketing agency within the next three months to advance in your
career. You've determined this using the following SMART goal criteria:

 Specific: You love your current marketing job but it lacks the opportunity for growth. You want
to find a new job in the city within the next three months because you believe it will be a wise
career choice.

 Measurable: In order to ensure you're following through with your goal, you will complete five
job applications per week leading up to your goal deadline.

 Achievable: In order to achieve this goal, you'll need a new online portfolio. This will require you
to upload new portfolio materials and give your website a revamp. You'll do this as soon as
possible and set a goal timeline a few months in advance to ensure it's attainable.

 Relevant: Since you value professional growth and want to become a marketing manager by
2022, this SMART goal is highly relevant to your career.

 Time-bound: To achieve this goal, you'll need to meet your set deadline of three months.

Example 2

Let's say you want to hire 10 new reporters to your newspaper by the end of the year to increase overall
news coverage. Consider the following criteria for this SMART goal:

 Specific: You want to hire 10 new reporters to your newspaper company by the end of the year
in order to supplement news coverage.

 Measurable: You plan on measuring your progress by hiring at least 1-2 new employees each
month to achieve this goal by the deadline.

 Achievable: You ensure this goal is achievable by lowering your other newspaper costs to afford
new employee salaries. Also, you set a completion date of 12 months in advance to ensure you
meet this goal at a steady pace.

 Relevant: This goal is relevant because many editors have expressed concern that they have
more stories than they're able to assign to the current number of reporters. Also, you and other
executive leaders are hoping to expand your audience by bringing in reporters with experience in
topics not yet reported on in your newspaper.

 Time-bound: You decide that you're going to give yourself until the end of the year to complete
this goal.