It is that time of year where I spend my time writing out new goals for organizations. I sometimes think that “New Year’s Resolutions” are overrated in our personal lives, because we aren’t held accountable for the next 12 months. However, in operating a business where generating revenue allows you to eat, it becomes very important. I like eating!
Using the SMART guidelines helps me define those goals.
S – Specific. You want to know what the goal means when you read it again in a few months. Fight the urge to be brief here and opt for clarity.
M – Measurable. You need to have a clear measure for each goal. Make sure you define and clearly communicate its data source.
A – Actionable. Good goals start with a verb that adds motion. Action verbs tell you what you’re doing.
R – Realistic. This is one of the areas where we’ve tweaked the traditional acronym. In addition to having an owner responsible for the outcome, good goals can be realistically achieved within a certain time frame. Lofty thoughts or aspirations don’t belong here – those belong in vision statements.
T – Time Bound. Goals need to be executable within a defined time. Depending on what level each goal is at within the plan will help dictate it’s time. Strategic objectives should be within the year. Corporate goals may be yearly or quarterly. Action items and initiatives are within a quarterly period or less.
As a final note to SMART goal development, make sure to have a little heart or passion when answering the question “why” for each goal. Make sure you communicate why each goal is important to your success. It’s an easy way to help the goal owner understand the impact of their work and why it’s important for your organization’s success. I get really excited around second quarter when the team is checking them off. To me, we did a great job of following the guidelines of setting up our goals for the organization!
Good luck to you all this year as you develop your 2017 strategic plans.
