It’s a great feeling — setting an objective and achieving it. Goals can be a game-changer, but even the most disciplined people can be thrown off when life happens. At school and at work, many people have found the SMART method to be an effective way to stay focused and turn plans into reality.
While regular goal setting involves identifying a desired outcome, a SMART goal has five key characteristics: specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and Time-based. Leading companies and campuses worldwide have adopted this approach, and scores of productivity experts have tweaked it. The 2023 version of SMART goal setting is refined and road tested.
SMART goals are worth a try because they can guide you on your path at school and beyond. “As someone who entered college as a first-generation student, I understand the importance of having guidance,” says Katherine Burdick, first-year college advisor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. “Part of this guidance is understanding what you want to accomplish and identifying a path to that goal.” Using the following criteria can help you find that path.
Let’s say you would like to increase your classroom participation. Deciding to speak up in class at least twice a week for a semester would make your goal specific as well as measurable and time-based. It’s also a reasonable, Achievable objective that will be relevant to your success. Altogether, it’s a way to customize your goals so they reflect who you are, what you value, and what kind of life you’re building.
Using SMART criteria can elevate your goal setting to an actionable, motivational process. Before you get started, take a few tips from the experts.
There’s no wrong way to do it. Dr. David M. Woods, an associate professor at Miami University in Ohio, introduces SMART goals to his classes every year. From his perspective, it’s about students building habits that position them for success long term. “I am less interested in what their goals are than that they are trying to improve,” he explains. “And I can offer encouragement and suggestions.”
Progress can be measured in different ways. There’s no need to have analytics or data points if they don’t fit your goal. A SMART objective can be qualitative or quantitative, points out Chris Drew, a professor and founder of The Helpful Professor. “A quantitative goal will have a grade or numerative evaluation, such as 80 percent on a test,” he explains. “A qualitative goal will be based on a subjective evaluation, such as a grade on a paper or summoning the courage to give a public speech.”
You can get there in small steps. “Set benchmarks for yourself,” says Olivia Butler, a career advisor at Southern New Hampshire University. Butler encourages students to incorporate SMART goals as they gain confidence in their academic careers. She also emphasizes the importance of maintaining the connection to longer-term ambitions.
SMART goals are worth a try because they can guide you on your path at school and beyond.
Assess progress. Many studies have shown that frequently monitoring progress increases the chances of success. That’s because acknowledging even small wins can provide inspiration. In addition, candid self-assessment can help you identify both helpful and not-so-helpful habits. This part of the process is a bit different for everyone. Keeping quick digital notes is one way to do it, but if you love a spreadsheet, here’s your chance!
Go easy on yourself and be flexible. Everybody runs into obstacles that can interrupt momentum. It’s fine to revise your goal and make adjustments to keep yourself in the game. “This method allows flexibility,” says Burdick. “Goals change, life happens, and it’s OK to adjust as we go.”
Going to college is about a lot more than mastering academic subjects. Mastering SMART goals can help you long after you graduate. Dream big, set SMART goals, and make your plans come true.
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