S.M.A.R.T. Objectives

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Creating S.M.A.R.T. Objectives

Specific
Measurable
Attainable
R~~ealistic~~ (we changed this to Relevant as per Carlos)
Timely

Specific - A specific objective has a much greater chance of being accomplished than a general objective. To set a specific objective you must answer the six "W" questions:
*Who:      Who is involved?
*What:     What do I want to accomplish?
*Where:    Identify a location.
*When:     Establish a time frame.
*Which:    Identify requirements and constraints.
*Why:      Specific reasons, purpose or benefits of accomplishing the objective.

EXAMPLE:    A general objective would be, "Get in shape." But a specific objective would say, "Join a health club and workout 3 days a week."

Measurable - Establish concrete criteria for measuring progress toward the attainment of each objective you set. When you measure your progress, you stay on track, reach your target dates, and experience the exhilaration of achievement that spurs you on to continued effort required to reach your objective.
To determine if your objective is measurable, ask questions such as......How much? How many? How will I know when it is accomplished?

Attainable - When you identify objectives that are most important to you, you begin to figure out ways you can make them come true. You develop the attitudes, abilities, skills, and financial capacity to reach them. You begin seeing previously overlooked opportunities to bring yourself closer to the achievement of your objectives.
You can attain most any objective you set when you plan your steps wisely and establish a time frame that allows you to carry out those steps. Objectives that may have seemed far away and out of reach eventually move closer and become attainable, not because your objectives shrink, but because you grow and expand to match them. When you list your objectives you build your self-image. You see yourself as worthy of these objectives, and develop the traits and personality that allow you to possess them.

Realistic - To be realistic, an objective must represent an objective toward which you are both willing and able to work. An objective can be both high and realistic; you are the only one who can decide just how high your objective should be. But be sure that every objective represents substantial progress. A high objective is frequently easier to reach than a low one because a low objective exerts low motivational force. Some of the hardest jobs you ever accomplished actually seem easy simply because they were a labor of love.
Your objective is probably realistic if you truly believe that it can be accomplished. Additional ways to know if your objective is realistic is to determine if you have accomplished anything similar in the past or ask yourself what conditions would have to exist to accomplish this objective.

Timely - An objective should be grounded within a time frame. With no time frame tied to it there's no sense of urgency. If you want to lose 10 lbs, when do you want to lose it by? "Someday" won't work. But if you anchor it within a timeframe, "by May 1st", then you've set your unconscious mind into motion to begin working on the objective.

T can also stand for Tangible - An objective is tangible when you can experience it with one of the senses, that is, taste, touch, smell, sight or hearing. When your objective is tangible you have a better chance of making it specific and measurable and thus attainable.

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