Applying the Strategy: Developing Your SMART Goals
- redeemedcps
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
Hey Redeemed Fam!
If you have not already read the first two blogs (How to Thrive in 2026, Understanding and Picking SMART Goals) please do so as they have set the foundation for today's final blog in the series in which we will be discussing how to create your SMART goals. If you are ready to apply the strategy, then keep on reading and be on the look out for a free downloadable resource in this blog.
Step-By-Step SMART Goal Building Guide
S- SPECIFIC
The first step in applying this goal setting strategy is to actually create the goal statement. To do this, ask yourself the interrogative questions (who, what, when, where, which, why, ) and be specific about the answers for each. The following is a great breakdown that has been adapted from University of California Office of the President (2017):
Who – Is this a goal that involves just you or other people?
What – The aim or desired outcome of the goal needs to be established in detail.
When – Set a time in the goal itself to help keep you accountable however ensure it is realistic.
Where – Does this goal require you to go somewhere to accomplish it?
Which – Identify obstacles or requirements that can affect your ability to accomplish this goal and see if the goal is realistic for you. For example, if your goal is to work at a hair salon, but you’ve never done hair before, that will be a challenge so adjust the goal to be “Take a cosmetology course to learn how to do hair so I can work in a hair salon." This is more realistic and appropriate given your current circumstances.
Why – What is the motivating factor?
In addition to this, most goals often include a push towards some sort of action like change, regulate, produce, and transform just to name a few. These action words should always point you in the direction you want to move in without having to overexplain in the goal (University of California Office of the President, 2017). In other words, you should be able to read your goal and know what to do and what not to do.
M-MEASURABLE
Unless you have something to measure your progress or accomplishment, you won't know if you are on track or have accomplished your goal therefore it is imperative to set up 'measuring sticks' so to speak. It can be specific task oriented activities that when accomplished take you closer to your goal measured by your output or input of something. Quantitative (larger savings, more time available, etc.) and qualitative (surveys, notes, visual data) measures are also useful tools that can be used effectively to see the impact thus far. If your goal is hard to measure, make some changes to it.
A – ACHIEVABLE
If you implement some strategies, develop new skills, do some research, and so on will this goal be attainable? If so then this is a sign that your goal is indeed achievable. Remember, if your goal is too unrealistic or not attainable- if it requires so much that it is not realistic, then you may have to rework it.
R – RELEVANT
Your goal is relevant if it fits into your ultimate aim or plan. For example, if you are a hairdresser working in a hair salon and your ultimate plan is to own your own salon, a goal could be to learn how to manage a hair salon by taking a business course. If your ultimate aim is not to open your own hair salon then this goal would not be relevant.
T – TIME BOUND
Give yourself a deadline but make sure it is reasonable or else you run the risk of not meeting your goal. You can pick an effective timeline by considering the tasks involved associated with the goal and the time required for that. Consider also checking how other people with similar goals may have timed themselves as it can help serve as a guide for you. In addition to that,try to add check-in moments. If your goal is a year long one then monthly or quarterly check-ins may be helpful. If it is a 3 month timeline for your goal, frequent check-ins may be helpful. Ultimately, it depends on what is most helpful in keeping you on track, motivated, and diligently.
Once you have completed all categories of the SMART goal strategy, write a summary of your goal that includes all SMART categories into three main sections:
New Specific Goal: This specific goal is a summary of the 'S-M-R' categories and between 2-3 sentences.
Achievement: Summarize category 'A' into a short single sentence statement.
Target Completion Date: State the deadline you have given yourself here from category 'T'.
To make this easier to understand here is an example of a smart goal shared by the University of California Office of the President (2017):
Completed SMART Goal Example
Vague Goal: I want to complete a project
Specific: Many people are accessing our current site from their mobile devices. Since it’s not a responsive site, it provides a poor experience for customers. I want to launch a mobile app for my company website by the end of June, which requires involvement from software development, design, and marketing. Measurable: Creating a mobile app for our company site will require a lot of resources. To make it worthwhile, I’d like to have 50,000 installs of the site within six months of launch. I’d also like to show a 5% conversion rate from customers using the mobile site.
Achievable: The departments that will be involved have signed-off on creating a mobile app. I’ll need to manage the project and set milestones to keep everyone motivated and on target.
Relevant: Improving the customer experience on mobile devices is a core initiative for my company this year.
Time-Bound: In order to achieve 50,000 mobile app installs and a 5% conversion rate by the end of the fiscal year, the app will need to be launched by Q2 with a robust marketing campaign that should continue through the end of the year
Summary
New Specific Goal: Improving the customer experience on mobile devices is a core initiative for my company this year, so we are going to create a mobile app. By the end of the fiscal year, there should be 50,000 installs of the mobile app we develop, and it should produce a 5% conversion rate. We’ll build the mobile app in-house and launch it by the end of June with an app-related marketing campaign that will continue to the end of the year.
Achievement: Mobile app launches end of June.
Target Date: End of the fiscal year
If you would like access to our organization's free SMART Goals Creation Package, click below for instant access.
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Conclusion
Goal setting can sometimes be hard and challenging however it is my hope that through these blogs and resources, you've been able to see how to use the SMART goal strategy effectively. If you have some personal challenges or just want some additional support through counseling or Psychotherapy Click here to schedule your free consultation (Or call us directly at 905 904 1403) and take the first step toward clarity, healing, and wholeness.
Reference
University of California Office of the President. (2017). How to write SMART goals (v.2) [PDF]. UCOP Local Human Resources. https://www.ucop.edu/local-human-resources/_files/performance-appraisal/How+to+write+SMART+Goals+v2.pdf
