SMART Goals

SMART goal doesn't just mean an elegant one. There is more to it in real sense. A Goal needs to be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound and when we combine all these we get a SMART goal. It guides people when they set objectives, for example for project management, employee performance management and personal development. 

The first known uses of the term occur in the November 1981 issue of Management Review by George T. Doran.

Specific

This term lays stress to the fact that a goal needs to be crystal clear. It needs to pin point to a specific task and should be unambiguous; without vagaries and platitudes. To make goals specific, they must tell a team exactly what is expected, why is it important, who’s involved, where is it going to happen and which attributes are important.

Measurable

This term focuses on the capability of a goal being measurable by a concrete criteria. The thought behind this is that if a goal is not measurable, it is not possible to know whether a team is making progress toward successful completion. Imagine a runner on a race track without the finish line. Measuring progress is supposed to help a team stay on track, reach its target dates, and experience the exhilaration of achievement that spurs it on to continued effort required to reach the ultimate goal. 

Attainable

Dreaming high is good, however one shouldn't do the same to one's goals. Unlike a vague dream, goals should be realistic and attainable. The goal should be set above the realized potential of the team to motivate them to achieve higher, yet it shouldn't be impossible. That is, the goals are neither out of reach nor below standard performance, as these may be considered meaningless.

Relevant

The fourth term stresses the importance of choosing goals that matter. An IT Project Manager's goal to "Make 50  Vada Pavs by EOD(End of Day)" may be specific, measurable, attainable, and time-bound, but lacks relevance. Relevant goals (when met) drive the team, department, and organization forward. A goal that supports or is in alignment with other goals would be considered a relevant goal.

Time-bound

The fifth term stresses the importance of grounding goals within a time frame, giving them a target date. A commitment to a deadline helps a team focus their efforts on completion of the goal on or before the due date. This part of the SMART goal criteria is intended to prevent goals from being overtaken by the day-to-day crises that invariably arise in an organization. A time-bound goal is intended to establish a sense of urgency.