The SMART method to evaluate goals adds five considerations for success: be specific, be measurable, be attainable, be relevant, and be time-bound.
If your goal is not specific, you'll have trouble figuring out how long it should take to complete and whether or not you've accomplished it
Specific
Specific goals should answer
- What do I want to accomplish?
- Why is this a goal?
- Does it have a specific reason, purpose, or benefit?
- Who is involved, and who is the recipient: employees, customers, the community at large?
- Where should the goal be delivered?
- To what degree? In other words, what are the requirements and constraints?
Measurable
Meaning we can determine that they were objectively met.
You can tell if a goal is measurable by asking how much, how many, and how will I know when it's accomplished? Sometimes, the success of a goal can be measured with a simple yes or no.
You will need to measure most of the goals you have with metrics. Metrics are what you use to measure something like figures or numbers. Consider benchmarks or points of reference to make sure you're choosing accurate metrics.
It’s important for project managers to set well-defined goals. That’s why SMART goals are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. Metrics, such as figures or numbers, make goals measurable. The accuracy of metrics is confirmed with points of reference, called benchmarks.
Attainable
- Can it be reasonably reached based on the metrics? Typically, you want goals that are a little challenging to encourage growth. Otherwise, what's the point of the goal if nothing's going to change? However, you don't want it to be too extreme or you'll never reach it.
- A clue to helping you figure out if your goal is attainable is to ask, how can it be accomplished? Break down the goal into smaller parts, and see if it makes sense.
Relevant
- Does it make sense to try and reach this goal? Think about how the goal lines up with other goals, priorities, and values.
- Ask whether the goal seems worthwhile. Does the effort involved balance out the benefits? Does it match your organization's other needs and priorities? Everyone from the client and the project team and the people who will ultimately use the product needs to feel like the goal is worth supporting.
- Also, consider the timing. Both the amount of time the project will take, as well as the larger economic and social context, can have big impacts. There might be a budget to complete the project now, but will the company be able to sustain the project over time? Is there an audience that will continue to use the product or service once it's delivered?
Time-bound
Time-bound means your goal has a deadline. Deadlines give you a way to track your progress. Otherwise, you may never reach your goal or never even get started. Time and metrics often go hand in hand, because time can also be used as a metric.
- Making your goal time-bound gives you a way to break down how much needs to be accomplished over time.
SMART goals help you see the full scope of a goal, determine its feasibility, and clearly define project success in concrete terms.
- Specific: The objective has no ambiguity for the project team to misinterpret.
- Measurable: Metrics help the project team determine when the objective is met.
- Having measurable goals allows you to assess the success of your project based on quantifiable or tangible metrics, such as dollar amounts, number of outputs, quantities, etc. Measurable goals are important because they leave little room for confusion around expectations from stakeholders. Not every metric will have value, so you will have to determine which metrics make sense for the project.
- Attainable: The project team agrees the objective is realistic.
- Relevant: The goal fits the organization’s strategic plan and supports the project charter.
- Time-bound: The project team documents a date to achieve the goal.
Determining metrics can be extremely helpful in capturing statuses, successes, delays, and more in a project. As a project manager, identifying meaningful metrics can help move the project toward its goal. Additionally, by defining each element of a project goal to make it SMART, you can determine what success means for that goal and how to achieve it.
What makes each goal SMART
- What makes the goal specific? Does it provide enough detail to avoid ambiguity?
- What makes the goal measurable? Does it include metrics to gauge success?
- What makes the goal attainable? Is it realistic given available time and resources?
- What makes the goal relevant? Does it support project or business objectives?
- What makes the goal time-bound? Does it include a timeline or deadline?
