How to write SMART goals

Do you ever feel like you're on the hamster wheel, and not getting to where you want to go? Things can get in the way, deadlines can overwhelm us, and trying to stay organised and on-track can seem like an impossible challenge at times. 

The SMART goals method can help with that. With SMART goals, it's much easier to actually measure your success, mark your achievements, and make things happen in a reasonable and organised way. But what are smarter goals? What does the acronym of SMART goals stand for? And what are some professional SMART goal examples to follow. 

This guide will answer all of those questions and more. We’ll cover all you need to know about SMART goals methodology, and benefits, as well as showcasing some examples of personal SMART goals and professional goals, too. 

What are SMART goals? 

Before we look at any SMART objectives examples, let’s unpack what SMART goals mean, with a definition and break down the SMART goals acronym: 

• S: Specific - SMART goals have a clear and precise objective.  
• M: Measurable - There needs to be some way to measure or track your progress. 
• A: Achievable - The final objective should be realistically achievable in the given time-frame.  
• R: Relevant - The goal should be relevant and appropriate for your situation. 
• T: Time-based - The goal should have a clear deadline or end date. 

The SMART goals method is all about setting goals or targets that meet all five of these criteria. They need to be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based. 

Here’s an example of the SMART goals method

Regular goal: I’m setting up a new business and want to stay on budget. 

SMART goal: In order to ensure that my new business remains on budget, I'll generate a monthly budget and expenses report, listing all expenses and highlighting any potential areas of overspending that can be addressed to stay within the budget. If spending exceeds the budget, I’ll look for areas to cut back and make savings to get back on track. 

As we can see, the initial goal is vague and lacks any kind of measurable progress or clear time-frame. The SMART goal, meanwhile, is much more specific, focusing on relevant, actionable areas and providing clear time-frames. 

Here’s another SMART goals example, based on a personal goal 

Regular goal: I want to start working out more. 

SMART goal: I’ll look at my weekly schedule to find some suitable timeslots to exercise. I’ll then research local gyms and home workout equipment to decide on the best exercise method for me, and set up an exercise schedule including at least three hours each week.  

Again, the initial goal is vague, but the SMART goal lays out a clear plan of action, time-frames, and relevant, measurable ways for the person to reach their target. 

Benefits of setting SMART goals 

There are many benefits associated with setting SMART goals versus goals that are more random, unplanned and less specific. For example: 

• Increased productivity: When using the SMART goals framework, you might find you’re much more productive, as it’s a lot easier to keep track of your progress. The measurable nature of SMART goals can also provide additional motivation and encouragement. 

• Improved focus and motivation: When following the SMART principles for setting goals, you’re likely to be more motivated and focused. It’s a lot easier to feel encouraged and eager to reach your objectives when you have a clear definition of what they are. 

• Enhanced decision-making abilities: SMART goals tend to be more thought-out and, as the name implies, smarter. The SMART framework can help with better decision-making abilities, as you’re able to apply that same framework to other areas of life, making smart choices in both your personal and professional life. 

• Better time management: SMART goals can also assist with time management. When you have a clear time period in which you need to accomplish your goals, it’s a lot easier to keep track of everything, allocating time to certain tasks and duties, rather than having vague or unclear ideas about how long something is going to take. 

• Higher success rate: With SMART goals, you’re more likely to reach your goals a lot more often than those who have vague objectives instead. This is because SMART goals are clearer and more specific, so it’s easier to track everything and keep up with your objectives. 

How to set SMART goals 

Now that we've looked at what SMART goals stand for, let’s unpack how this method actually works and how you can apply the SMART framework to both your career and personal life.  

Specific 

The first element of the SMART framework is S for Specific. This means that, when setting a SMART goal, you should try to give yourself a very clear and precise objective. 

Some examples of this might be: 

• I will create a budget report for my business.  
• I will start jogging every day.  
• I want to start a side business selling goods online.  
• I want to learn new marketing techniques to make more sales.  
• I want to become a better team leader. 

The idea of setting a specific goal is so important, as it provides you with something very clear to aim for. This is a stark contrast to vague or unclear goals that are harder to measure or to motivate yourself for. 

Measurable 

Next, is the M of the SMART framework, which stands for Measurable. This means that your goal or objective should have some sort of trackable or measurable element to it. This is what allows you to chart your progress and see how well you’re achieving against your objective. 

Following on from the previous examples, the measurable element might look like this: 

• I will create a budget report for my business. The report will show the business’ monthly expenditure compared to the total annual budget.  

• I will start jogging every day. I’ll use a fitness tracking app to chart my distance, time, and calories for each jog. 

• I want to start a side business selling goods online. I'll spend an hour each evening setting up and marketing my new business.  

• I want to learn new marketing techniques to make more sales. I'll keep a chart of how many sales I make each month to chart my improvement. 

• I want to become a better team leader. I'll ask for feedback from my team to get their thoughts on my leadership changes over time. 

The measurable aspect of a SMART goal is very important for motivation purposes. Seeing your progress towards a goal can give you encouragement to keep going. At the same time, if you don’t see much change or impact, that could inspire you to change part of your plan to have better and more consistent, measurable success. 

Achievable 

The next element of the SMART framework is A, which stands for Achievable. This indicates that all of your SMART goals need to be realistic, and that you should be able to reach your target within a reasonable time frame, based on the knowledge and resources you have when setting the goal.  

With the achievable element added, our examples look like this: 

• I will create a budget report for my business. The report will show the business’ monthly expenditure compared to the total annual budget. I have enough financial knowledge and access to the company accounts to prepare this report. 

• I will start jogging every day. I’ll use a fitness tracking app to chart my distance, time, and calories for each jog. I’m relatively fit and active, so a daily jog should be an achievable target. 

• I want to start a side business selling goods online. I'll spend an hour each evening setting up and marketing my new business. I've got experience of running my own business and have some free time, so this goal should be achievable. 

• I want to learn new marketing techniques to make more sales. I'll keep a chart of how many sales I make each month to chart my improvement. I'm a marketing graduate with a good level of knowledge, and an eagerness to learn more. 

• I want to become a better team leader. I'll ask for feedback from my team to get their thoughts on my leadership changes over time. I have management experience, so feel that I can improve my leadership abilities. 

Goals need to be achievable. Otherwise, you will put in all that effort for nothing, and could end up disappointed and disillusioned if you fail to hit your targets. Or you could run the risk of pushing yourself too hard or overworking towards something that isn’t realistically attainable. 

Relevant 

Next, we have the R of SMART, standing for Relevant. Any goal you set should have relevance and purpose. There’s little point in setting yourself objectives that aren’t really relevant to your situation or won’t provide you with benefits. 

Examples: 

• I will create a budget report for my business. The report will show the business’ monthly expenditure compared to the total annual budget. I have enough financial knowledge and access to the company accounts to prepare this report. This report will highlight any areas of overspending, and I can then suggest changes to improve the firm's financial situation. 

• I will start jogging every day. I’ll use a fitness tracking app to chart my distance, time, and calories for each jog. I’m relatively fit and active, so a daily jog should be an achievable target. This addition to my routine should help me become fitter and healthier, which is important to me. 

• I want to start a side business selling goods online. I'll spend an hour each evening setting up and marketing my new business. I've got experience of running my own business and have some free time, so this goal should be achievable. Having this side business will allow me to save up for a new car. 

• I want to learn new marketing techniques to make more sales. I'll keep a chart of how many sales I make each month to chart my improvement. I'm a marketing graduate with a good level of knowledge, and an eagerness to learn more. Better marketing expertise will help me make more sales and become a more successful professional. 

• I want to become a better team leader. I'll ask for feedback from my team to get their thoughts on my leadership changes over time. I have management experience, so feel that I can improve my leadership abilities. By becoming a better leader, I'll not only help the company grow but can also potentially move into a more senior management role in the future. 

Relevance is an essential element of any SMART goal. If you don’t have a reason to aim for something, you may not have any motivation to follow through with your plans, and you could spend your time and energy more effectively on other objectives. 

Time-bound 

Finally, we finish up the SMART principles with T, for Time-bound. This means you should have a time limit or deadline for your plan, so you have some idea of when you need to reach your objective. 

Here are how the final SMART objectives examples look, with all five elements applied: 

• I will create a budget report for my business. The report will show the business’ monthly expenditure compared to the total annual budget. I have enough financial knowledge and access to the company accounts to prepare this report. This report will highlight any areas of overspending, and I can then suggest changes to improve the firm's financial situation. I’ll do this budget report each month for the next year. 

• I will start jogging every day. I’ll use a fitness tracking app to chart my distance, time, and calories for each jog. I’m relatively fit and active, so a daily jog should be an achievable target. This addition to my routine should help me become fitter and healthier, which is important to me. This is a long-term goal that I want to make part of my routine for at least the next 12 months. 

• I want to start a side business selling goods online. I'll spend an hour each evening setting up and marketing my new business. I've got experience of running my own business and have some free time, so this goal should be achievable. Having this side business will allow me to save up for a new car. I’ll aim to launch the business by the end of the year. 

• I want to learn new marketing techniques to make more sales. I'll keep a chart of how many sales I make each month to chart my improvement. I'm a marketing graduate with a good level of knowledge, and an eagerness to learn more. Better marketing expertise will help me make more sales and become a more successful professional. I’ll start a course later this month and review my results six months from now. 

• I want to become a better team leader. I'll ask for feedback from my team to get their thoughts on my leadership changes over time. I have management experience, so feel that I can improve my leadership abilities. By becoming a better leader, I'll not only help the company grow but can also potentially move into a more senior management role in the future. I’ll aim to get better feedback from my team by this time next year, so I’m ready to move into management as the company expands. 

Without a deadline, it’s a lot easier to drift or become distracted. Having a timeframe can help you stay focused and on track towards your SMART goals. 

Common mistakes to avoid when setting SMART goals 

When trying anything new for the first time, you’re likely to come up against some resistance and make a few mistakes. Here are some common mistakes to avoid when implementing SMART goals: 

• Setting vague or ambiguous goals: The point of the SMART framework is to create goals that are specific and clear. That’s rule No. 1 of the SMART principles. So, try to avoid setting goals that are very vague or lacking clarity. Goals like “I want to be a better worker” or “I want to make my own business” for example. 

• Failing to set measurable targets: Don’t overlook the importance of the “Measurable” part of the SMART system. Being able to measure your progress is often the only way to know whether or not you’re actually getting closer to your goal or if you need a change of approach.  

• Overestimating or underestimating your abilities: Every SMART goal needs to be achievable. Some people set their goals far too high, and usually end up disappointed when they aren’t able to make them work. Others set their goals too low, underestimating themselves and not getting the benefits and rewards they’re capable of. 

• Not considering external factors: Remember that many external factors can impact your progress towards your goals. Changes in your work or personal life, for example, could impact how much time or energy you have to focus on your goals. Be ready to change and set fair and reasonable deadlines that take these factors into account. 

• Not revisiting and adjusting goals as needed: Following on from the previous point, it’s important to understand that SMART goals are not set in stone. It’s perfectly fine to revisit them and make some changes if you encounter change in your own life, or if you see that things aren’t quite working out the way you originally expected. 

How to stay accountable to your SMART goals 

Staying on track towards your SMART goals isn’t always easy, and that’s where the power of accountability comes in. Here are some effective ways to keep yourself engaged and accountable: 

• Identify your motivation: To achieve any goal in life, you need motivation. Without it, you’re much more likely to simply give up, move on, or not follow through. Take time to remember why you’re doing what you’re doing, and set yourself reminders of your goals.  

• Share your goals with others: Sharing your goals and progress with other people is a great way to stay accountable. When we share things, we tend to be more motivated to see them through, as we don’t want to let other people down. We want to prove we’re capable of hitting our targets. 

• Track your progress: Since all SMART goals are measurable, it should be easy to track your progress as you go. If you’re writing a book, for example, you can track how many words you write a day or week, or how much time you spend writing. This should help with your motivation and keep you on-track. 

• Celebrate your successes: Remember to take time to celebrate your achievements, as you make them. Don’t just rush on to the next objective. Give yourself time to appreciate what you’ve done. Even if you’re only halfway towards your ultimate SMART goal, give yourself a pat on the back for making it that far. 

• Learn from your failures: It’s almost inevitable that there will be failures and hard times along the way as you try to reach certain goals or targets. But, instead of feeling let down or disappointed, look at those failures as learning experiences. Reflect on them and think about how you can do better next time. 

Conclusion 

Knowing how to set goals using the SMART goals framework can help provide the clarity and motivation you need to reach your goals and advance your career. While it may seem confusing at first, with repetition, tracking and accountability, you’ll be able to better track your progress and reach your goals.  

FAQs 

What are SMART goals? 

SMART goals are simply goals that meet all five elements of the SMART approach. They should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. 

Why is it important to set SMART goals? 

Setting SMART goals are recommended as it makes it much easier to hit your targets, track your progress, and stay motivated. 

What is the difference between a goal and a SMART goal? 

Standard goals tend to be vague or lacking in measurable aspects or time limits. SMART goals have more clarity, detail, and definition. 

How do I know if my goals are SMART? 

Check to see if your goals meet the five SMART principles. Are they specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound? If so, those are SMART goals. 

What are some common mistakes to avoid when setting SMART goals? 

Try to avoid making your goals too vague, and don’t make them unrealistic or unattainable. Always remember to include some kind of measurable element, too. 

How do I stay accountable to my SMART goals? 

Sharing your goals with friends or colleagues is a handy way to stay accountable, as well as tracking your progress and focusing on your motivation or reason to follow those goals.