\nSpecific –<\/strong> clear and unambiguous (what, why, who, where and which attributes);
\nMeasurable –<\/strong> concrete criteria for measuring progress toward the attainment of the goal;
\nAttainable –<\/strong> neither out of reach nor below standard performance;
\nRealistic \u2013<\/strong> representing something towards which you are both willing and able to work;
\nTime bound \u2013<\/strong> grounded with a\u00a0time-frame.<\/p>\n
There are surely advantages<\/strong> to S.M.A.R.T. goal setting \u2013 we get direction, focus our energy, keep a clear vision,\u00a0have a sense of purpose and control over the future. As a result we remain positive in our outlook.<\/p>\n However, what if S.M.A.R.T. goals limited our creativity? What if they prevented us from thinking out of the box,\u00a0being willing to take risks and collecting big rewards? What if they prevented us from being brilliant?<\/p>\n Remember\u2026 \u2018neither out of reach nor below standard performance\u2019\u2026<\/p>\n What if they were really D.U.M.B.<\/strong> goals? When I was responsible for the budgeting process of a large publisher I knew which Magazine Directors were\u00a0going to set unattainable goals and which ones were the \u2018five percenters\u2019 (5% more than the previous year). Goals should no doubt be S.M.A.R.T., but they should challenge us,<\/strong> make us surpass ourselves, require for us to\u00a0learn a new skill or develop a certain competency. Finally, there should be emotion in the process.<\/strong> The vision of what it will be like when we attain the goals should\u00a0motivate us to be creative, resilient, to course correct along the way and to feel like WINNERS when we achieve\u00a0them.<\/p>\n
\nDelimiting \u2013<\/strong> drawing boundaries and limits;
\nUnderstated \u2013<\/strong> playing safe, uncomplicated;
\nMarginal \u2013<\/strong> compared to our real and full potential;
\nBoring \u2013<\/strong> not challenging enough and therefore not being worth fighting for.<\/p>\n
\nAfter a while I could \u2018translate\u2019 their figures into a coherent overall budget.<\/p>\n
\nThey should be flexible enough so that we take calculated risks and have room for us to fail, because if we don\u2019t\u00a0fail somewhere along the line, then the goal was not worth pursuing and we end up without having grown and\u00a0learnt enough.<\/p>\n
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