Setting goals provides us with an action plan for where we want to get to and what we where we want to be after renter society.
Setting goals is a tool for measuring our progress toward our destination.
A quality goal can inspire an individual or team to set a clear path forward.
Show people how individual efforts impact the bigger picture.
Invoke a sense of pride in their accomplishments in reaching goals.
The key to success is being SMART about it.
SMART is an acronym that stands for:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Achievable
- Realistic
- Time-bound
Specific
Being clear about your goals and expectations is the first step to reaching them.
When the definition is too broad, goals become harder to measure and harder to achieve.
With specific goals, you can see a path form from start to finish.
When you create your SMART goal, try to answer questions like:
What are the steps in the plan to reach each goal?
Who is necessary to make it happen?
Where will our efforts take place?
How do we prioritize this goal compared to other goals?
If your goal is to stop drinking forever but you have never practiced sobriety.
It is unrealistic to head straight to sobriety.
You want to consider narrowing the objective.
For example, “I’m going to stop drinking today to the first as a small goal”.
This helps you focus on something specific vs. trying to consider climbing the entire mountain.
Measurable
Set measurable goals and criteria.
This lets everyone evaluate their performance and stay on track.
If you cannot measure something, you cannot tell if you are performing well or are off track and need to course-correct.
It’s important to quantify your data or indicate where you are progressing.
Achievable
It is important to look at your objectives and make sure your goals are realistic.
Don’t get too carried away and use far-fetched or unreachable goals as motivators.
Allow yourself to feel motivated by the satisfaction of achievement and real progress.
When setting goals, be ambitious and push for success.
Also, understand internal and external limits.
Achievement needs to be sustainable.
What are the necessary steps to achieve this goal?
Is this goal realistic compared to previous performance?
Why do we think this goal is achievable?
What external (and internal) factors might prevent us from achieving this goal?
You will want to consider what milestones will be an important part of your goal as you get ready to gain sobriety.
Continuing your training or mapping out your route will keep you motivated to move forward.
Help attending group meetings that you get through achievement empowers and sustains your good work.
Realistic (and Relevant)
Goals also need to be realistic and relevant.
Setting goals that are completely out of reach will not make you strive harder.
Setting goals that are too easy will not challenge you.
Make sure your goals are relevant to your objectives over time.
It is ok to adjust criteria as time passes.
What works now may not always work later.
It is important to identify when your needs change.
Do not be afraid to readjust as needed.
Ask yourself why you are trying to hike Mount Everest at all.
Are you the right person to hike Mount Everest?
What would it mean if you did not make it to the plateau?
If you decide to proceed, then you need to plot out a realistic training schedule for the feat.
Time-bound
Whether it is daily, monthly, or quarterly.
Whatever method you choose, make plans.
Make sure your goals can be measured so you can reach your goals on time.
Is this achievable in the given time frame?
What is the longest and shortest possible time to achieve this goal?
What potential blockers or time-related factors could delay progress?
When and how will we check for progress?
What do we do if we are off-track halfway through?
You will want to consider how often and for how long you are going to train to get ready to climb Mount Everest.
If you are thinking of going to the gym, you might decide to go three days a week for one hour each day for the next several months.
If you want to lose weight before your climb, you might make a time-bound fitness goal like “I am going to lose 10 pounds over the next three months”.
You might then have to check in milestones every two weeks to stay on track.
There are many benefits to setting SMART goals.
But most importantly, they provide a valuable road map for your performance journey.