Intro

Setting and achieving goals is an element all of  us strive towards regardless of the differences  

in our careers. While failing to meet your  goals can come from a plethora of reasons,  

it never ceases to be disheartening  and stressful. So, in order to better  

accomplish your set out goals, lets examine SMART  Goals and how to utilize them in your career.

What are SMART Goals?

In the simplest terms, SMART Goals are a practical  approach to goal setting. It stands for

(S)pecific

Start by setting a specific and detailed goal.  

Instead of citing “I would like  to make more sales this quarter”,  

be more concrete. Are you looking  for a 5% increase? A 10% increase?

(M)easurable

From here, ensure your goal is measurable. If  looking to increase your productivity, establish  

a surefire way to track your progress. An example  includes monitoring the time you spend distracted  

on your phone, and cutting it down by 10 -15% As you're setting up the foundation of your goal,  

(A)ttainable

don’t forget to keep them attainable.  While increasing your salary by $50,000  

may be ambitious, try setting incremental  goals such as an extra $5,000 each year that  

progressively build towards your larger goal. Furthermore, keep your goals relevant to your  

(R)elevant

aspirations in the long term. Creating goals that  are related to the “big picture” in your career  

will help you stay motivated to  overcome challenges when they arise.

Lastly, create Timely goals, or goals that have a  deadline in mind. Deadlines are proven to improve  

(T)timely

performance, so while it may be easy to simply say  “I’ll finish this project by the end of the year”,  

establish an appropriate, 1 to 2 month cut off  date, to ensure you are avoiding procrastination.

Goal setting assists with progress in our careers.  Whether this means more success, happiness,  

or fulfillment, remember to follow the SMART  framework to achieve your biggest aspirations.