Why SMART Goals Are So Great

In the past few years I have seen SMART goals criticised in addition to getting positive commentary. Let’s see what they are all about, since I will use them frequently in my coaching!

The Criticism

Supposedly SMART goals are too simplistic, people lose motivation if they “fail to deliver”, they go so all in that nothing else matters, and what happens if there are obstacles appearing suddenly, causing the whole project to be ruined?

It is a bit too dramatic to my taste. Project Management as a field of expertise is all about controlling the controllable, and responding to the best of one’s abilities to the unexpected.

Sometimes stuff is indeed ruined, but mostly not. Usually we can fix things.

Lack Of Ambition

An argument on a deeper level that speaks against SMART goals is how we can set the bar too low. It is insinuated that because the A means achievable, we may aim too low, remain too comfortable to ensure completion.

How is this the fault of the tool though? I would say that however SMART goals are put to use is solely the responsibility of the wielder of this tool.

Also, it is a process when learning new things about ourselves. We don’t know what we don’t know, so when trying something new, all we have to work with are estimates.

R for realistic may turn out to be unrealistic, despite our best efforts. The shorter the timeline, the smaller the error, and yet it is still an estimate only.

Our Individual Uniqueness

Some of us have a history of stuff not going well. In such a case, to build a series of small successes (to train the brain for good news), I would argue that it is a nice thing to start small from something that is almost impossible to not achieve.

Again, it is all in how we choose to use the tool. Not everyone is, can be, or has to become, a high performer. We can measure successes subjectively, and celebrate them all regardless of their size.

What SMART Goals Mean

Part of the criticism is that there is no one correct response to the letters of the SMART mnemonic. This is true.

However, with a bit of creativity and less drama, we can acknowledge that the spirit of each alternative is roughly the same.

Some alternatives to the letters:

• S: specific, strategic
• M: measurable, motivating
• A: achievable, attainable, assignable, ambitious, agreed
• R: realistic, relevant, reasonable
• T: time-bound, timely, timeframe, trackable

The sum of whatever letter combination we choose to roll with is intended to make it as ambitious as we are comfortable with, without going overboard, but whilst creating space for a possible completion.

Realism. And regardless of how well we plan, other things can still come up that cause delays.

It is okay.

It is not “all or nothing” though, but we can try again until we get it right.

How To Use SMART Goals

SMART goals can be used on small projects that are finished in weeks or a couple of months, and on large projects planned to be done in a year or so.

You could try them on something like washing all windows, too, or starting a new hobby.

Work through the letters one by one and come up with something concrete as a starting point for your planning.

An Example

Let’s say you have 100 windows on your massive MegaMansion to wash. Maybe you have timed yourself already, and know that each window takes 5 minutes to wash well.

In order to make this a realistic thing to pull off, you have to question the time available (what other commitments you possibly have), when you preferably want the project done, and for example whether all windows must be washed on insides too (4 surfaces if they open in the middle) or if outer and inner glasses are enough.

Without counting prep times, the windows will take 5 min x 100 = 500 min, or 8,3 hours to wash. This should be realistic to get done over nearly two months, when washing a batch at a time.

The final statement simply pulls all factors together into one sentence to make it totally clear what you are asking from yourself.

You could end up with this (written on 6 July): ”By the end of August I will have washed all windows of my house.”

The task is clear, there is a deadline, and seemingly it is realistic, too. The result is measurable as a yes or no, meaning either the project is successful, or the deadline has to be postponed.

Wrapping Up

Most projects are larger though, so the usual unknowns are: the deadline date itself (too early?) and whether unexpected things come up during the process.

We don’t know what we don’t know, so it can be hard to estimate correctly the time spent. Sometimes detours have to be taken to for example learn new skills before we are able to move on. In such situations it is normal to feel discouraged among others.

The only thing left to do is to adjust time frames then.

If we are talking about repeatable tasks and projects rather than unique ones, the more you do them, the better your time estimates become.

Have you tried working with SMART goals yet? If yes, how did you find the process? And if no, do you want to try creating one now that you know a bit more? Share in the comments!

 

Photo credit: Vince Fleming.