Are Your Goals S.M.A.R.T.?
Posted on February 23, 2010 by Randi Shuster, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.
What are S.M.A.R.T. goals and why should I care? S.M.A.R.T. goals are an essential ingredient in the recipe of success when creating a life you love!
I am always astonished when I take stock and look back over the events of the last 6 to 8 months in my life. I have managed to make many positive changes that in the past, I would have thought were impossible. As I reflect upon what it took to achieve these goals, I realize that it was no one action or event that made it possible. Rather, it was a combination of careful planning and a series of baby steps taken each leading towards the end result I envisioned.
It took an unwavering commitment on my part. I also enlisted the support of my family, my friends and my coach! Yup, you heard me right, my coach. Now I know you must be thinking, why would you Randi, need a coach, YOU ARE A COACH! Coaches are people first and we get stuck just like everyone else.One way my coach helped support me in realizing my goals, was to ensure that my goals were S.M.A.R.T.
A S.M.A.R.T. GOAL is:
•*S*– specific, make sure your goal is specific and well defined, do you know exactly what you want?
•*M* –measurable, how will you know you’ve achieved it? How will you measure your progress in either a quantitative or qualitative way?
•*A* –attainable, what opportunities are available to you that will help you achieve your goal? What skills do you have or do you need to acquire?
•*R* –realistic, is your goal doable?
•*T* -timeline, in what period of time do you intend to reach your goal? What is the target date?
I found that by setting S.M.A.R.T. goals I was able to bypass the spin and frenzy that usually leaves me feeling overwhelmed because the “job” seems too big. I was able to get clear on what I wanted, how I would get it, when I intended to have it and how I know (or knew) I will have it. Also, breaking the goal down into easy to manage steps helped decrease feelings of being overwhelmed and increased my confidence. Acknowledging and celebrating each small success made the journey all the sweeter!
“Nobody trips over mountains. It is the small pebble that causes you to stumble. Pass all the pebbles in your path and you will find you have crossed the mountain.” ~Author Unknown
With practice you too can learn how to make S.M.A.R.T. goals which can support you along your path to creating a life you love!
HOMEWORK:•Pick a goal and check to see if it is S.M.A.R.T.
•Break the goal down into easy to accomplish steps.
•Share your timeline with a support person (family, friend, coach.
•Share with your support person how you will acknowledge and celebrate the successful completion of each step.
Enjoy the journey!!!!
