SMART Goals

What are SMART goals? 

SMART goals are a framework for setting clear, achievable objectives. The acronym SMART stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time bound. This methodology helps create well-defined goals that are easier to track and accomplish. Here’s a breakdown of each component: 

Specific: Goals should be clear and specific. A particular goal answers questions like who, what, where, when, why, and which. 

Measurable: Goals should include criteria to measure progress. This helps track achievements and stay motivated. 

Achievable: Goals should be realistic and attainable. This ensures that they are challenging yet possible to achieve. 

Relevant: Goals should align with broader objectives. This ensures that they are worthwhile and directly contribute to the plan. 

Time-bound: Goals should have a deadline. This creates a sense of urgency and helps in focusing efforts.

Examples of SMART goals 

An example SMART goals are given below: 

Specific: Increase the number of followers on the company’s LinkedIn page by 20%. 

Measurable: Track the current number of followers and calculate the required increase. 

Achievable: Assess if a 20% increase is realistic, given current growth trends. 

Relevant: Ensure this aligns with broader marketing and engagement goals. 

Time-bound: Achieve this within the next six months. 

By setting SMART goals, individuals and organizations can focus their efforts, improve their performance, and achieve their objectives more effectively. Another example of SMART goals for the workplace would be:  

Time-bound: Complete the new employee onboarding process within 30 days. 

Specific: Define the completion timeline for onboarding. 

Measurable: Track the start and end dates of the onboarding process. 

Achievable: Ensure the timeframe is realistic given company resources. 

Relevant: Align this goal with HR objectives to improve employee integration. 

How Mercer | Mettl can help 

Setting clear goals and regularly assessing employees’ progress is important to foster engagement and maintain positive relationships. Mercer | Mettl offers a range of digital tools to help organizations simplify their goal-setting, assessment, and feedback processes. These tools include scientifically validated assessments tailored to an organization’s development and business requirements. With a cloud platform and detailed analytics, companies can revamp their organizational development strategies and achieve significant improvements throughout the employee lifecycle.