Achieving Goals: How to Succeed with the SMART Framework

When we set out to achieve something, when we want to reach a milestone, we intuitively focus on our goal. For example, you might think, "I want to write a book" or "I want to create content on social media." These are goals and milestones that exist in our minds.

But why do people still fail to achieve these goals? One of the primary reasons is that setting a goal is not just about having an intuitive idea but also about following a structured approach. When you set goals in a structured way, you create actionable steps that help you achieve those goals.

The Importance of Structured Goal Setting

Today, we are going to discuss how we can set personal or professional goals in a structured way. It's crucial to set goals this way so that you can create actionable steps to achieve them.

There are many goal-setting frameworks, such as SMART, CLEAR, and BAD. Each has a different context, but the concept and context are most important. In this blog, we will focus on a popular framework: the SMART Goal Setting Framework.

Understanding the SMART Goal-Setting Framework

What Does SMART Stand For?

SMART is an acronym that stands for:

• S - Specific
• M - Measurable
• A - Achievable
• R - Relevant
• T - Time-bound

Let's understand each element, and I'll provide examples to make it clearer.

1. Specific Goals

When we define a goal, it needs to be specific. For instance, saying "I want to write a book" is a vague goal. A book can be many things—a fiction book, a non-fiction book, a murder mystery, a self-help guide, a textbook, or even a children's book. Simply stating that you want to write a book doesn't make your goal specific.

To make it specific, you should clarify what kind of book you want to write. For example, "I want to write a non-fiction book on career development." This is how you make a goal more specific.

2. Measurable Goals

Next, let's talk about measurability. How will you measure your goal? Using the book example, if you're writing a book, you should have a way to track your progress. You might define your goal as writing one chapter each month, with each chapter being around 8,000 words.

To measure this, you would regularly check whether you're on track—writing, not writing, or meeting the word count. For another example, let's say you have a health goal to lose weight. Today, many apps allow you to track your progress and measure how much weight you're losing through exercise. The key is to create metrics or a measurement unit for your goal.

3. Achievable Goals

Now, let's talk about achievability. Your goal needs to be practical. If you set an unrealistic goal, you'll never achieve it. For example, if you're interested in cooking and say, "I will become a master chef in a month," that's not an achievable goal.

However, if you set a goal like "In one month, I will learn to make basic dal, rice, and roti" or "I will learn to make one curry dish," that is an achievable goal. So, when setting your goals, think pragmatically about what is achievable.

4. Relevant Goals

Relevance is a very important element. If your goal isn't relevant, then it's not

useful to complete. For example, if you have a health goal but spend your time binge-watching Netflix series, your actions aren't relevant to achieving your goal. You need to set goals where your actions align with your objectives.

Let's say you want to get promoted at work. To make this goal relevant, you might decide to complete certain professional certifications that will enhance your chances of getting promoted. This way, your actions are directly related to your goal.

5. Time-Bound Goals

Lastly, let's discuss the importance of having time-bound goals. If your goal doesn't have a timeline, you may never complete it because there's no sense of urgency. Everything could keep getting pushed back indefinitely.

So, every time you set a goal, make sure to attach a timeline to it. For instance, "I want to write a non-fiction book on career development based on my corporate experiences in the next a year." This goal is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound—a perfect example of a SMART goal.

Conclusion: Take Action with SMART Goals

Now that you understand the SMART Goal Setting Framework, take time to create or refine your goals. Look at your previous goals—were they SMART? Did they include all five elements? Analyse and modify them if necessary, and you'll find that setting SMART goals will help you create actionable steps that bring you closer to achieving them.

If you found this content helpful, let me know in the comments. I'd love to hear what your SMART goals are. Feel free to share them, and also tell me what kind of content you'd like to see in future posts. I'll be back with more valuable insights. Thank you for reading!