The first-known use of the word S.M.A.R.T transpires in the November 1981 issue of Management Review by George T. Doran. The major advantage of SMART goals is that they are very easy to understand and very easy to identify when they have been executed. SMART principles are generally linked to Peter Drucker’s management by goals and objectives concept. The November 1981 issue of Management Review content written by George T. Doran which is titled “There is a S.M.A.R.T way to write management’s goals and objectives. It discoursed the importance of goals and the difficulty experienced in setting them.
SMART is a reminder acronym. It is a given criteria designed solely to guide the setting of goal e.g. In the department project management, personal development and employee-performance management.
Now that the meaning of SMART is disclosed , it is very important to know what every letter stands for and why each of the elements in the acronym are very important to goal setting.
• S stands for Specific.
And this means setting real numbers with real targets or deadlines. E.g. “When someone want more visitors to his/her website” this isn’t precise or specific enough to be traced. How will the person determine when him/her have hit the goal without a specific number to track?
• M stands for Measurable.
Making sure that the goal been set is assessable. Avoiding unclear terms like “brand engagement” or “social influence”, is advice. These are things to think about in general but not things on which to base the goals on. Because, how will you determine when the goal is reached if you are unable to measure things like “brand engagement?”
• A stands for Attainable.
This is to make sure that the goal been set is challenging but achievable. A multi-million dollar company can’t be built overnight, do not set an unattainable goal.
• R stands for Realistic.
This is about been honest and self-trust. You know what your company and team is capable of; set a goal that fits within that boundary. Set a goal that fits your boundary, since you know your capability.
• T stands for Time-bound.
This is all about having or setting a goal oriented deadline. Every goal you set must have a deadline, this will enhance your concentration ability.
Setting SMART goals will ensure that you are determining something doable for a particular project or task, it will also give access to the measurement of your achievement and determine if you are reaching them or you are not.
Why S.M.A.R.T Goals is important for a proper goal setting strategy for business operators.
Goal setting is the strength of any form of business operation. Goals help us know the level of our effectiveness and also keep us fully focused and drive us to succeed. While we know how important goals determines our success, over 80% of small business owners have failed to keep track on the goals of their business, perhaps this is due to the fact that goal setting is a difficult thing to do as marketers. And while we hope that we understand our accomplishment in our businesses, it is not enough because we also have to be sure that all our goals are implemented in reality and this is where S.M.A.R.T goals come into play. S.M.A.R.T Goals is important for a proper goal setting strategy for business operators because it helps increases the level productivity and engagement. When most employees set goals maybe to sell 50 products or test a new shopping feature, research shows that they are most likely to achieve them. Most Individuals that write down their goals, share them, and send consistent updates about their level of progress this also tends to boost their chances of success in business.