Setting goals is an important part in shaping a professional future. Whilst everyone wants to reach their goals in the end, motivating oneself to complete them can sometimes be hard. SMART goals are a more efficient way of creating a plan in order to achieve goals — this is a guide to what SMART goals are and how they can help in creating a perfect plan.
What Is a SMART Goal
The SMART framework is one of the most widely used and effective goal-setting tools available. It ensures that every goal set has a clear structure, a measurable outcome, and a realistic chance of being achieved. Each letter in the acronym stands for a specific quality that a well-formed goal should have.
S — Be Specific
In order to get to a goal, it is necessary to set one that is going to apply personally. Goals should be as specific as possible when being created. When thinking of setting goals, the best questions to ask usually start with What, Where and Which.
Consider the difference between a generic goal and a specific one:
- Generic goal: "I want a better job."
- Specific goal: "By the end of next year I want to start a career in marketing."
The specific version gives a clear direction and a timeframe. It is something that can be worked towards in a structured way, whereas the generic version provides no clear next step.
M — Measure It
Goals should always be measured by a certain criteria. By doing this it is possible to progress through and know exactly when the target has been reached.
For example: improving skills over the next two years by completing an apprenticeship or gaining a marketing qualification will help start a career in marketing. This is a measurable goal — there is a timeframe, a method, and a clear outcome that can be tracked.
A — Is It Achievable
Setting a target is all about pushing oneself. Many people tend to focus on their strengths and weaknesses and then achieve more as a result. However, if a target is set too high, it is possible to become frustrated by the stress involved, which can then cause giving up on achieving the goal altogether.
For example: if new to marketing, the goal of becoming the marketing manager within the first three months of starting a role is not a realistic and achievable goal. Setting a more appropriate milestone — such as completing a foundation qualification or securing a first marketing role — would be far more motivating and attainable.
R — Be Realistic
When setting goals it is necessary to be realistic and to understand personal limitations. People like to challenge themselves but often find it difficult to complete goals that are beyond their current reach.
The goal of owning a multi-million pound enterprise by the end of the month is perhaps a little too ambitious. Setting targets that can be reached every week or month — and building on those successes over time — is a far more effective approach to long-term goal achievement.
T — Time Bound
The goals being looked to achieve could become irrelevant if a time frame is not set to complete them. When thinking of a time scale to complete goals, it is important to think about what is realistic and whether it can be done.
For example: sitting at a desk knowing there is work to do, it is easy to get lost in the world of the internet. However, deciding that by 2 o'clock a specific task must be completed creates a time-bound commitment. Setting that kind of deadline is an effective way of motivating completion of a job by an allotted time — and that is essentially what a Time-bound goal does on a larger scale.
Why SMART Goals Work
The power of the SMART framework lies in the fact that it removes vagueness from goal-setting. A goal that is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound has a far greater chance of being completed than one that is vaguely defined. The structure encourages commitment and makes it easier to track progress, celebrate milestones, and adjust course when needed.
For further reading on how to apply SMART goals in practice, the Professional Academy blog on What Are SMART Objectives and How Do You Apply Them provides additional context and worked examples.
How Professional Academy Supports Your Journey
SMART goals are used across all courses and at all levels in Professional Academy qualifications. Whether looking to study a qualification in management and leadership, marketing, or sales, or as part of an apprenticeship programme, the SMART framework will always be a valuable tool for achieving professional goals.
To find out which qualification is the right fit, use the Qualifications Navigator or book a call with an advisor today.
