3. Specific
To set a specific goal you must answer the six “W”
questions:
o Who: Who is involved?
o What: What do I want to accomplish?
o Where: Identify a location.
o When: Establish a time frame.
o Which: Identify requirements and constraints.
o Why: Specific reasons, purpose or benefits of
accomplishing the goal.
4. Measurable
When you measure your progress, you stay on
track, reach your target dates, and experience
the satisfaction that spurs you on to continued
effort required to reach your goal.
To determine if your goal is measurable, ask
questions such as……
o How much? How many?
o How will I know when it is accomplished?
5. Achievable
o Almost any goal can be achieved when you
plan your steps carefully within a time frame
that allows you to carry out those steps.
o It is much better to start with a modest goal
that you will be able to achieve in reasonable
time than an ambitious goal that is
unattainable and leaves you defeated.
o When you list realistic goals you are laying the
foundations of success, not failure.
6. Realistic
o To be realistic, a goal must represent an
objective toward which you are
both willing and able to work.
o Every goal should represent substantial
progress so that you can experience a sense
of achievement.
o Check out with others how realistic the goal
is.
7. Timed
o Deadlines give you something concrete to aim
for and help you maintain momentum.
o Times also need to be specific – saying
something will happen in “summer 2012” is
too general, it should give a full date.
o Again, ask others and use colleagues to help
you assess how realistic your timings are.
8. Check progress
Taking the SMART approach to action planning
encourages you to:
o assess your progress
o easily share your plan and your progress with
others
o make adjustments and modifications as you go
o grow in confidence and satisfaction each time
a milestone is reached.
9. Action plan
Proforma and checklist can be downloaded from
the Learning Exchange, under the “Webinar”
forum.
