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What is SMARTER Goal Setting

Most people today are at least vaguely familiar with the phrase “SMART goals”. First coined in 1981 by a consultant named George T. Doran, the SMART acronym has since taken a life of its own. A quick search for the term today would yield various meanings for the infamous play on words but essentially, it means Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely.

Almost half a century later, the SMART strategy for goal setting is still considered one of the most effective ways to approach objectives big and small, across many areas of life. After being applied to countless projects, plans, and efforts both public and personal, the strategy has naturally evolved to accommodate improvements based on acquired feedback.

The SMARTER framework is a result of this organic progression. Improving on the original SMART foundation, this strategy adds two more steps to the original 5-step approach to creating a more robust, change-proof framework.

The E and R in the SMARTER framework stand for Evaluate and Readjust, respectively. Here’s how these two additions integrate and improve upon the original.

Specific

Specific in the context of SMARTER goal setting mean well-defined. Instead of saying “I want to save money”, try rephrasing it into something more precise and unambiguous. For example, you can instead say “I want to save $500 in 3 months”. 

This specificity also applies to every other aspect of goal setting like having a set deadline, determining exactly how you intend to monitor your progress, or who you will go to for feedback to stay accountable.

Measurable

At any given point in time from the start of your goal to its deadline, you should be able to assess how much progress you have made so far and how long you still need to go. A measurable goal has clear and defined metrics for determining if it has been achieved or not. This helps in regularly evaluating progress toward the goal and making necessary adjustments.

Achievable

A goal is Achievable if it can really be accomplished within the time frame and with the resources available to you. This helps in building confidence and a sense of achievement while avoiding frustration and disappointment from setting goals that are too ambitious or unrealistic.

Relevant

A goal that is Relevant is a goal that aligns with an individual's values, priorities, and larger life objectives. It means that the goal is meaningful and important, and contributes towards one's overall satisfaction and well-being. A relevant goal motivates an individual to put in the effort and time required to achieve it. By ensuring that goals are relevant, individuals increase the likelihood of successfully achieving their goals.

Timely

Timely, also often referred to as “Time-Bound” refers to the aspect of a goal that has a specific deadline or time frame for completion. It means that the goal is given a deadline for completion, which helps in creating a sense of urgency and focus, as well as keeping progress on track. Having a specific deadline also helps to prioritize goals and allocate resources appropriately. By making goals time-bound, individuals increase their chances of successfully achieving them.

Evaluate

Evaluate is the step that involves regularly reviewing and assessing progress toward a goal. To continue to evaluate a goal, one must check in on the progress made towards a goal on a regular basis, comparing it to the original plan and making any necessary adjustments. The evaluation process helps in ensuring that the goal remains aligned with an individual's values, priorities, and resources and that any obstacles or roadblocks can be overcome. By regularly evaluating progress, individuals increase their chances of successfully achieving their goals.

Readjust

To Re-adjust means to modify a goal as needed based on the results of the evaluation step. This step involves making changes to the plan or strategy for achieving the goal, based on what has been learned during the evaluation process. The re-adjustment process helps ensure that the goal remains relevant, achievable, and aligned with an individual's values, priorities, and resources. By being flexible and making changes as needed, individuals increase their chances of successfully achieving their goals.

When to use the SMARTER strategy?

The SMARTER framework can be used in any situation where an individual or organization wants to set and achieve specific goals. This framework can be applied in personal or professional settings, such as:

  • Career development: setting and achieving career goals such as obtaining a promotion or learning new skills
  • Personal growth: setting and achieving personal goals such as losing weight, starting a new hobby, or saving money
  • Business planning: setting and achieving business goals such as increasing sales, improving customer satisfaction, or expanding into new markets
  • Project management: setting and achieving project goals such as delivering a product or service on time and within budget

The SMARTER framework is a flexible tool that can be adapted to fit the needs of different types of goals and situations. By using this framework, individuals and organizations can ensure that their goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound, evaluated, and re-adjusted as needed.

Regardless of what goal framework you choose to follow, it's important to touch base with your goals daily and be reminded of your "why". Make it easy to create, track, and manage all your personal, professional, health, and finance goals in one place with TaskSpur, the only life management tool you will ever need. Check it out!

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Related: What are CLEAR Goals?

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