What is SMART?
SMART is a method, it is a strategic approach to how I can best achieve my goals. The method is mainly used in corporate management and project management and serves to define clear goals. The aim is to make it easier for the company management to implement future plans successfully. But you can use SMART not only in companies but also to formulate your own goals.
In the end, it doesn't matter which goal is being pursued, it is only a matter of formulating it as such.
SMART is the abbreviation for a criteria grid that is applied to defined goals (e.g. in your project planning, in goal agreements, in your job search, etc.):
In order to be verifiable, the goals should contain the following criteria:
S = Specific - (Exact and concrete: What exactly do I want to achieve?)
The more precisely a goal is formulated, the less leeway there is and the fewer
misunderstandings can arise.
M = measurable - (specify a measurable criterion).
Simply "reduce production costs", for example, is a bad goal because 1 euro less would also achieve the goal. A goal should therefore always be measurable.
A = attractive - (How important is this goal to me?).
Goals that are considered unacceptable or unattractive have little chance of success.
R = realistic - (Can I realise the goal as I envision it?).
Realistic goals are more easily accepted and motivate much more than unrealistic goals.
T = Time-based - (When do I want to achieve the goal?).
Not all goals make sense to specify a time. Often technical or financial goals, such as meeting the budget, do not have a deadline.
Here is another example of how you can implement SMART:
You don't like your current office job and want to learn another profession.
Specific: I would like to learn a craft job as a gardener in order to start my own business in a year.
Measurable: I apply to 25 landscaping companies (quantitative), one of which hires me permanently (qualitative).
Attractive: I get a permanent job and will pass the retraining in one year to open a flourishing business afterwards with my starting self-employment.
Realistic: I will take 5 days off work to find out which landscape gardening companies I can apply to and hand in my application in person.
Time-based: I will be permanently employed in a landscaping company until the end of next month and then start my own business at the end of next year.
We wish you every success in achieving your future goals.