SMART Goal Setting

It is easy to underestimate the impact that effective goal setting can have on individual and organizational performance. Simply put, goals provide direction. By having clearly stated targets, you can make strategic choices when deciding how you will attempt to achieve both personal and organizational goals. This, in turn, increases the probability of achieving those goals. Even if you fail to achieve your targets, you will have a better understanding of why you did not reach them and how to improve your performance the next time around. SMART provides a mechanism to help you think about the important issues you are addressing through your goal-setting exercise. By focusing your thoughts toward Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Results-Oriented and Time-bound goals, you will be aware of the important issues that could become stumbling blocks to achieving those goals.