Setting goals is something most of us do yet achieving them often proves elusive. Let’s try and make our goals into SMARTER goals.

Whether it’s that New Year’s night fitness goal which faded away by February or the “I mean it this time” career aspiration that never quite materialised, the gap between setting goals and achieving goals is real and sometimes daunting.

I’ve had an on-off relationship to goal setting over the years. Sometimes I’ve been up to the eyeballs in plans and projects all organised with maximal precision and at other times I’ve simply winged it.

All goals need tenacity, effort and a “can-do” mindset but adding the planned approach to these elements generally worked out better than adding the happy go lucky approach. As a result, I stick to a planned approach nowadays.

So, the good news is that there are effective ways to approach goal setting which dramatically increase your chances of success. My favourite two approaches are SMARTER goals and well-formed outcomes. I often use them in combination.

In this article I’ll just cover SMARTER goals. I’ll cover well-formed outcomes in another article so subscribe to the blog if you want a heads up when it gets published.

The Evolution of SMART Goal Setting

Goal setting has come a long way from simple wish lists and New Year’s resolutions.

The SMART framework, introduced by George T. Doran in 1981, revolutionised how we approach objectives.

However, experience has shown that even SMART goals sometimes fall short. Enter SMARTER goals – an enhanced framework that addresses the crucial elements of evaluation and review.

The traditional SMART framework (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) laid excellent foundations and put down deep roots.

However, in our rapidly changing world, we need something more robust.

Enter the SMARTER goals approach which adds two vital elements:

Evaluated and Reviewed/Revised.

These additions create a more dynamic goal setting system that evolves with you and with your contextual environment.

How I use SMARTER Goals

SMART goals are often perceived as being highly corporate in nature and while there’s a lot of truth in this perception, this can put people off using them for personal goals. Although understandable, this is an error in my humble opinion, and I would encourage you to embrace and experiment with SMARTER goals on your self-development journey.

I like to have a BHAG (Big Hairy-Assed Goal) as my overarching objective, e.g. earn 20 million pounds and retire to the Caribbean in style, then use chunked down sub-goals, sub-sub-goals, sub-sub-sub-goals, etc… to help me get to the end step by step. These goal chunks, which I call “Baby Steps,” lend themselves perfectly to and benefit greatly from a SMARTER Goals approach. Here’s another article I wrote specifically about these baby steps and imaginatively titled “The “Baby Step” Approach to Goal Setting.”

My general approach, gathered from my 60 years life experience, is to set process goals rather than target goals but you are of free to go your own way on this.

Breaking Down the SMARTER Goals Concept

Specific

Gone are the days of vague intentions like “get fit” or “be more productive.” Your goal needs crystal clarity. Instead of “improve my health,” try “walk 10,000 steps daily” or “practice meditation for 15 minutes each morning.” The more specific your goal, the clearer your path to achievement becomes.

Measurable

If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it. Every goal must have concrete ways to track progress. Want to improve your reading habit? “Read 20 pages daily” gives you a clear metric. Want to enhance your skills? “Complete one online course per quarter” provides a tangible measure of progress.

Achievable

While ambition is admirable, setting impossible targets sets you up for failure. Your goals should stretch you but remain within your reach and, more importantly, your ability to control. Consider your current resources, skills, and time constraints. If you’re starting a fitness journey, aiming to run a marathon next month might be unrealistic – but training for a 5K in three months could be perfect.

Relevant

Your goals must be in sync with your broader life objectives and values. Ask yourself: “Why does this matter to me?” If you can’t find a compelling answer, you might need to reconsider. A goal to learn Spanish might be highly relevant if you’re planning to work with Spanish-speaking clients, but less so if your career path lies elsewhere.

Time-bound

Open-ended goals often become endless pursuits. Set clear deadlines and create milestone markers along the way. Rather than “learn photography,” try “complete a basic photography course by June and shoot my first paid event by September.”

Evaluated

This is where SMARTER goals truly shine. Regular evaluation helps you understand what’s working and what isn’t. Set weekly or monthly review dates to assess your progress. Are you moving forward? Are your strategies effective? This isn’t about passing or failing – it’s about gathering information to improve.

Reviewed/Revised

Life changes, circumstances shift, and your goals should adapt accordingly. Perhaps you set a goal to change careers, but during the process, you discover a better opportunity in your current field. The ability to revise your goals without feeling like you’ve failed is crucial for long-term success.

SMARTER Goals Implementation Strategy

Start with these steps to create your SMARTER goals:

1. Write your goal in clear, specific terms

2. Identify at least three ways to measure progress

3. List the resources you need and already have

4. Connect your goal to your bigger life picture

5. Create a timeline with specific milestones

6. Schedule regular evaluation dates

7. Be prepared to revise and adapt

Typical Real-World Applications

Instead of “become more confident,” try this SMARTER goal approach:

• Specific: Give one presentation per month at local networking events
• Measurable: Track number of presentations given and audience feedback
• Achievable: Join a local speaking club for practice and support
• Relevant: Aligns with career advancement goals
• Time-bound: Achieve comfortable public speaking level within six months
• Evaluated: Monthly self-assessment and feedback analysis
• Reviewed: Adjust speaking topics and frequency based on progress

Rather than “get healthy,” consider this SMARTER goal approach:

• Specific: Establish a morning exercise routine
• Measurable: 30 minutes of exercise, five days per week
• Achievable: Start with 15 minutes and gradually increase
• Relevant: Supports energy levels and work performance
• Time-bound: Establish routine within three months
• Evaluated: Weekly progress check on consistency and energy levels
• Reviewed: Modify exercises based on fitness improvements

Troubleshooting SMARTER Goals

Poor initial goal scoping:

Large abstract goals can hinder the effective application of the SMARTER framework. To address this, break down large goals into smaller and more manageable sub-goals or chunks. These sub-goals contribute to the larger goal, and each one provides success boosts, while also scaling down the impact of any setbacks. Make them as small as required.

Loss of Motivation:

The “middle problem” can occur when initial enthusiasm fades. To combat this:

• Create a visual reminder of your ‘why’ in your workspace.
• Throw in some “just for fun” sub-goal units as required.
• Schedule regular reflection sessions to reconnect with your core purpose.
• Consider finding an accountability partner who shares similar aspirations for mutual support.

Time Management Issues:

Poor time allocation can derail well-planned goals. To address this:

• Use a planner or digital calendar to schedule specific times for goal-related activities.
• Focus on one task at a time instead of multitasking.
• Create daily and weekly schedules with dedicated periods for goal-pursuit, including buffer time for unexpected delays.

Unexpected Obstacles:

Life rarely goes exactly as planned, requiring regular evaluation. To manage obstacles:

• Conduct weekly progress reviews to identify potential roadblocks early.
• Maintain a flexible approach to your timeline.
• Create contingency plans for common setbacks.
• Use evaluation periods to adjust strategies without abandoning the goal.
• Learn from setbacks to strengthen future planning.

Perfectionism:

The pursuit of perfection, whilst laudable, is 100% futile and can lead to self-sabotage and goal abandonment. To counter perfectionist tendencies:

• Set realistic standards instead of impossible targets.
• Accept that mistakes are learning opportunities.
• Use the 80/20 principle to determine when good is good enough.
• Celebrate small improvements rather than waiting for perfect outcomes.

The key to overcoming these challenges lies in the ‘ER’ of SMARTER, using evaluation and review to adapt your goals.

Celebrate all your SMARTER goals victories

One key element of all goal pursuit should be the act of celebrating wins. Not just some wins but all wins – both big and small.

If you’ve broken your goal into smaller chunks or set a series of key milestones, when you hit them acknowledge that.

Even a small “patting yourself on the back” celebration goes a long way to keeping your motivation where it needs to be.

SMARTER celebrating makes a lot of sense.

Making SMARTER goals work for you

I’d like to reinforce an important point regarding self-development that sometimes gets lost in translation. “Self” is the key word here.

You can study all the models, articles and “hacks” you like. You can read, watch or listen to a million training programs or podcasts. Heck, you can splash out on expensive personal coaching and mentoring from recognised experts in their fields plus undertake a host of other knowledge input methods.

However, none of this knowledge gathering matters if you don’t act by yourself for yourself. So, get off your backside and take the necessary actions to get yourself started by first planning and then completing your own goals.

Your success with SMARTER goals will come from your commitment to the process, not just the outcome. Schedule your evaluation dates in advance. Create a simple tracking system that works for you. Share your goals with someone who can support your journey.

Remember, the power of SMARTER goals lies not just in their structure, but in their flexibility. They provide a framework that grows with you, adapts to change, and keeps you moving forward even when circumstances shift.

Start today by taking one of your current goals and running it through the SMARTER framework. You might be surprised at how much clearer and more achievable it becomes when viewed through this lens.

Your goals matter too much to leave them to chance. Make them SMARTER and watch as your path to objective achievement and success becomes clearer and more manageable than ever before.

Click here to download a useful and free SMARTER Goals guide & Proforma to help you out. As a bonus, you’ll also be added to my popular “Self-development Matters” community.

Reference:

Doran, G. T. (1981). “There’s a S.M.A.R.T. Way to Write Management’s Goals and Objectives”, Management Review (AMA Forum), Vol. 70, Issue 11, pp. 35-36.

Doran’s paper was published in November 1981 in Spokane, Washington, when he was a consultant and former Director of Corporate Planning for Washington Water Power Company.

That is all for this one

I hope you enjoyed this article. If you found value in it, subscribe to the blog.

You might also like to check out these related articles:

Self-Discipline Drives Success

Perfection is a Myth

Total Ownership is Key

PS If you want more Emotional Intelligence in your life, why not check out my powerful “Develop Your Emotional Intelligence” mini-video course. It’s all free and you can find it here:  https://andrewdpope.kit.com/develop-your-eq