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What are CLEAR Goals?

CLEAR is an acronym for a goal-setting strategy that prioritizes collaboration, especially within large groups or organizations. CLEAR stands for Collaborative, Limited, Emotional, Appreciable, and Refinable. This type of goal-setting methodology recognizes that Emotional Intelligence, not just IQ, plays a significant role in any goal-achievement endeavor.

The CLEAR goal-setting model emphasizes the use of communication in leveraging the strengths of individual members to reach the aim of the collective. It also focuses on the importance of having concise, focused intent to make sure everyone on the team understands what they are supposed to do in order to effectively contribute to the goal at hand.

Who invented CLEAR goals?

The CLEAR strategic planning methodology was founded by management consultant and former Olympic gold medalist Adam Kreek. Kreek has taught and coached about SMART goal-setting for a decade. However, when he was planning for a massive rowing expedition from Africa to North America, he noticed and cannot overlook the pitfalls of the SMART methodology.

The SMART model, Kreek believes, fails to account for the “innate emotional and collaborative nature of big projects.” It is also not flexible enough to adjust for unexpected outcomes. For his expedition, Kreek needed a strategy that will let him and his crew effectively plan the journey. And so, the idea of the CLEAR strategic planning method was born.

Understanding the structure of CLEAR goals

The heart of CLEAR goal setting is the emphasis on Emotional Intelligence as a vital part of success. Kreek draws this idea from the following notable sources:

  • Dr. Dean Keith Simonton who helped show that people with average IQs regularly outperform those with high IQs in long-term performance;
  • Daniel Goleman, whose groundbreaking book, Emotional Intelligence, has demonstrated that the rational mind alone cannot effectively lead to sound decisions; and
  • Travis Bradberry whose company called Talent Smart has shown that emotional intelligence is a critical factor that sets achievers from the rest

This EQ factor is therefore embedded at the core of what CLEAR goal setting is about. Let’s take a closer look at each individual component.

Collaborative

Instilling a sense of community in a group helps encourage individual members to stick to their commitments and stay on track. This unity of purpose often helps individual team members feel like their efforts are channeled towards a goal that is bigger than themselves. That, and of course the consensus that it’s harder to quit if there are more people relying on you to do your job.

Overall, this emphasis on collaboration is where the EQ factor in CLEAR goal-setting is most apparent. It underscores the importance of the individual and their role in achieving the objective.

Limited

The goal should be defined in terms of what it is and what it’s not for one simple reason: it’s easier to measure. This is one aspect of goal-setting that Kreek maintains from the SMART goal-setting model. A good goal should be specific and should clearly define every aspect of the plan such as how resources are to be utilized, how long the goal should be worked on, and what roles each team member should take.

Emotional

A CLEAR goal is a goal that helps the participating individuals establish a deep emotional connection to the objective they’re working on. People who are emotionally linked to the things they do tend to be more passionate and engaged in their efforts.

Appreciable

For a goal to be truly specific, it must be broken down into simpler, actionable chunks. This keeps organizations from getting overwhelmed by the magnitude of the task at hand. By breaking down huge goals into smaller objectives, and those smaller objectives into targets, and those targets into even smaller constituent aims, the team can keep their focus on making progress.

Refinable

The only certain thing about the future is that it’s uncertain. Nobody can predict how outcomes will turn out. Despite having so many plans for a number of potential obstacles on the way, the fact remains that the future simply is unknowable.

Instead of obsessing over something you don’t have control over, make room for the possibility of change. And when it does come, your goal must be flexible enough to accommodate the new conditions. In this case, reviews and sincere communication is key to the success of the team and the goal.

Final Word

The CLEAR goal-setting strategy is a practical model for teams going after big goals. It retains some ideas from the SMART methodology, which includes having specific and well-defined objectives, while also improving on it by placing an emphasis on EQ as a key part of goal achievement.

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Related: What is SMARTER Goal Setting

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