Make your goals SMARTER

Whether you’ve set your goals yet for 2020 yet or still need to, I’d like to encourage you not to settle for SMART goals, but to rather make them SMARTER.

I first learned about SMARTER goals through leadership expert, Michael Hyatt, and I have to say, they’re a no brainer.  This one leadership practice can help you move to the next level in your leadership effectiveness.  Here’s a quick overview:

SPECIFIC: 

Don’t make the goal broad or general.

MEASURABLE: 

Include an objective norm against which progress can be measured.

ACTIONABLE: 

Begin the goal with a verb.

RISKY: 

Set the goal high enough to demand your best effort and get you out of your comfort zone.

TIME BOUND: 

Set a deadline for the goal.

EXCITING: 

The goal needs to excite and inspire you, otherwise it’s pointless!

RELEVANT: 

Make the goal relevant to your season in life, your personal values and your other goals.

4 Goal-setting practices

I’d also like to share four goal-setting practices with you that I’ve personally found very helpful for achieving my own goals:

1. Know WHY the goal even matters to you in the first place. Ask yourself what’s at stake if you do / don’t achieve it.

2. Write your goals down and keep them visible. Research shows that we are far more likely to achieve our goals if we write them down.

3. Ask someone to hold you accountable, but be very selective about who you are ask. Accountability helps us keep momentum!

4. Set aside time in your diary to review your goals regularly, identify the next step you need to take and then action accordingly.

I hope you find this useful.