smart goals assignment template

The Essential Guide to Writing SMART Goals

By Kate Eby | January 9, 2019

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In this article, you’ll find the latest tips and examples to help you create and execute on SMART goals. We’ve also provided a free, downloadable SMART goals template to get you started.

Included on this page, you’ll find examples of SMART goals , a customizable SMART goals worksheet , and the best project management tool to use to put your plan in action.

What Are SMART Goals?

SMART goals are a relatively new idea. In 1981, George T. Doran, a consultant and former director of corporate planning for Washington Water Power Company, published a paper called, “There’s a SMART Way to Write Management’s Goals and Objectives.” In the document, he introduces SMART goals as a tool to create criteria to help improve the chances of succeeding in accomplishing a goal.

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What Does the SMART Acronym Stand For?

The acronym stands for:

S – Specific

When setting a goal, be specific about what you want to accomplish. Think about this as the mission statement for your goal. This isn’t a detailed list of how you’re going to meet a goal, but it should include an answer to the popular ‘w’ questions:

• Who – Consider who needs to be involved to achieve the goal (this is especially important when you’re working on a group project).
• What – Think about exactly what you are trying to accomplish and don’t be afraid to get very detailed.
• When – You’ll get more specific about this question under the “time-bound” section of defining SMART goals, but you should at least set a time frame.
• Where – This question may not always apply, especially if you’re setting personal goals, but if there’s a location or relevant event, identify it here.
• Which – Determine any related obstacles or requirements. This question can be beneficial in deciding if your goal is realistic. For example, if the goal is to open a baking business, but you’ve never baked anything before, that might be an issue. As a result, you may refine the specifics of the goal to be “Learn how to bake in order to open a baking business."
• Why – What is the reason for the goal? When it comes to using this method for employees, the answer will likely be along the lines of company advancement or career development.

M – Measurable

What metrics are you going to use to determine if you meet the goal? This makes a goal more tangible because it provides a way to measure progress. If it’s a project that’s going to take a few months to complete, then set some milestones by considering specific tasks to accomplish.

A – Achievable

This focuses on how important a goal is to you and what you can do to make it attainable and may require developing new skills and changing attitudes. The goal is meant to inspire motivation, not discouragement. Think about how to accomplish the goal and if you have the tools/skills needed. If you don’t currently possess those tools/skills, consider what it would take to attain them.

R – Relevant

Relevance refers focusing on something that makes sense with the broader business goals. For example, if the goal is to launch a new product, it should be something that’s in alignment with the overall business objectives. Your team may be able to launch a new consumer product, but if your company is a B2B that is not expanding into the consumer market, then the goal wouldn’t be relevant.

T – Time-Bound

Anyone can set goals, but if it lacks realistic timing, chances are you’re not going to succeed. Providing a target date for deliverables is imperative. Ask specific questions about the goal deadline and what can be accomplished within that time period. If the goal will take three months to complete, it’s useful to define what should be achieved half-way through the process. Providing time constraints also creates a sense of urgency.

The Easiest Way to Write SMART Goals

When it comes to writing SMART goals, be prepared to ask yourself and other team members a lot of questions. The answers will help fine-tune your strategy, ensuring the goals are something that’s actually attainable. While you should be as realistic as possible, it’s important to approach writing SMART goals with a positive attitude. After all, this is something that you want to achieve.

This doesn’t have to be a daunting experience; in fact, it should be quite illuminating. Later in the article, we demonstrate how to write SMART goals for two typical business scenarios: completing a project and improving personal performance. Below, we’ve included an easy-to-use SMART goals template in Word, along with a template to help you plan and manage your goals in Smartsheet.  

‌ Download the SMART Goals Template in Word

Execute on SMART Goals with Project Management in Smartsheet

Once you’ve defined your SMART goals, it’s essential to put a plan in place to achieve them. To help with execution, you need a tool that enables you to plan, track, manage, automate, and report on your goals in real-time.

One such tool is Smartsheet, a work execution platform that enables enterprises and teams to get from idea to impact - fast. With a collaborative, real-time objectives tracker in Smartsheet, you can increase transparency and improve accountability across your initiatives.

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Plus, top project management leaders rely on Smartsheet to help align the right people, resources, and schedules to get work done. Use Smartsheet to create consistent project elements, increase speed, and improve collaboration with scalable options that fit individual work preferences. Hold yourself and your team accountable, improve visibility into team priorities, and ensure nothing slips through the cracks.

Discover how Smartsheet can help maximize your project management efforts, today.

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Examples of SMART Goals

Here are two examples of initial goals we'll use to walk through this process:

• I want to complete a project
• I want to improve my performance

This is a typical approach to creating goals, but both of these are very vague. With the current wording, the goals probably aren’t going to be attainable. The statements lack specifics, timelines, motivation, and a reality check.

Now, let’s use the SMART goals formula to clarify both and create new and improved goals.

Goal 1: I want to complete a project

• Specific: Many people are accessing our current site from their mobile devices. Since it’s not a responsive site, it provides a poor experience for customers. I want to launch a mobile app for my company website by the end of Q2, which requires involvement from software development, design, and marketing.
• Measurable: Creating a mobile app for our company site will require a lot of resources. To make it worthwhile, I’d like to have 50,000 installs of the site within six months of launch. I’d also like to show a 5% conversion rate from customers using the mobile site.
• Achievable: The departments that will be involved have signed-off on creating a mobile app. I’ll need to manage the project and set milestones to keep everyone motivated and on target.
• Relevant: Improving the customer experience on mobile devices is a core initiative for my company this year.
• Time-Bound: In order to achieve 50,000 mobile app installs and a 5% conversion rate by the end of the fiscal year, the app will need to be launched by Q2 with a robust marketing campaign that should continue through the end of the year.

Goal 2: I want to improve my performance

• Specific: I received low marks on my ability to use PowerPoint at my last performance review. Improving my skills requires that I learn how to use PowerPoint efficiently and practice using it by creating various presentations. I’d like to be more proficient using PowerPoint in time for my next review in six months.
• Measurable: By the time of my next review, I should be able to create presentations that incorporate graphs, images, and other media in a couple of hours. I should also be able to efficiently use and create templates in PowerPoint that my coworkers can also use.
• Achievable: Improving my PowerPoint skills is instrumental in moving forward in my career and receiving a better performance review. I can set time aside every week to watch PowerPoint tutorials and even enroll in an online class that can teach me new skills. I can also ask coworkers and my manager for PowerPoint tips.
• Relevant: Working with PowerPoint is currently 25% of my job. As I move up in the company, I’ll need to spend 50% of my time creating PowerPoint presentations. I enjoy my career and want to continue to grow within this company.
• Time-Bound: In six months, I should be proficient in PowerPoint ensuring it only occupies 25% of my workload instead of the nearly 40% of the time it occupies now.

Once you go through and write your goals according to each SMART characteristic, you can then combine and consolidate all the work you’ve done into one SMART goal.

SMART goal: I want to complete a project

• Description: Improving the customer experience on mobile devices is a core initiative for my company this year, so we are going to create a mobile app. By the end of the fiscal year, there should be 50,000 installs of the mobile app we develop, and it should produce a 5% conversion rate. We’ll build the mobile app in-house and launch it by the end of Q2 with an app-related marketing campaign that will continue to the end of the year.
• Milestone: Mobile app launches end of Q2.
• Deadline: End of the fiscal year.

SMART goal: I want to improve my performance

• Description: To grow in my career, I need to improve my PowerPoint skills. By taking online classes and reviewing tutorials, I’ll improve my PowerPoint skills so that it only requires 25% of my work time.
• Milestone: Complete an online PowerPoint course in three months.
• Deadline: Next employee review in six months.

Discover more project management tips, template, and best practices in our comprehensive Project Management Guide .

Establishing Clarity Around Success and Failure of Goals

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How to Set SMART Goals (+ Examples and Templates)

Table of Contents

We all have goals — to be more successful in what we do, to enroll in a university, improve our skills — the list goes on. Goals are what sets thriving people apart from everyone else. 

As Norman Vincent Peale, an advocate of the positive thinking movement, once said:

“All successful people have a goal. No one can get anywhere unless he knows where he wants to go and what he wants to be or do.”

But are your goals always worth pursuing?

Are your goals always even possible to achieve?

Are your goals tangible?

Those are all difficult questions ⁠that often surpass our ability to answer in a straightforward, systematic, and logical way. 

Luckily, I’ll offer simple criteria you can use to determine the value of any goal — they’re called SMART goals. 

In this guide, I’ll also lay out the answers to the following questions:

• What are SMART goals exactly,
• How and when to set SMART goals, and
• When SMART goals are not that smart.

As a bonus, I’ll give you a few SMART goal templates to use in your work and life and touch on how to write SMART goals you’ll stick to.

Let’s get rolling! 

What is a SMART goal?

The acronym SMART stands for 5 characteristics of a goal that you should consider to be able to achieve the goal successfully. Each characteristic is represented by 1 letter in the SMART abbreviation:

• S stands for Specific — specific goals are straightforward, precise, and can be easily defined.
• M stands for Measurable — measurable goals constitute points of reference you can use to assess whether you are successful in progressing toward or reaching the said goal.
• A stands for Attainable — attainable goals are realistic in the sense that you have a reasonable amount of time, money, and skills to reach them.
• R stands for Relevant — relevant goals hold particular importance in your life, the project you’re currently working on, or your business as a whole.
• T stands for Time-bound — time-bound goals “bind” you with a specific time frame you’ll have to work on to call your efforts a success.

In other words, SMART goal setting helps you elaborate your aims and desires — and make an action plan. In fact, setting SMART goals increases the possibility of achieving your goal. 

Interestingly, SMART goals are also known as SMART criteria or SMART objectives, too. But no matter your SMART goals definition, don’t pass on this opportunity to make them part of your routine.

For an illustration of SMART goals, take a look at my example of cutting time for processing data in Excel below:

How to write SMART goals?

By now, you might wonder, “ How do I write a SMART goal and how do I apply this framework to real-life scenarios? ” 

I’m glad you asked!

The application of SMART goals varies. In any case, you can use these criteria to decide whether your current career goals are worth pursuing or if working on particular areas of your personal development would be beneficial enough.

To help you wrap your head around the matter, here are 5 critical steps to follow on your SMART goals journey. Let’s get started!

Step #1: Make goals specific 

Specific goals are well-defined and precise enough so that you won’t steer away from achieving them. 

Let’s take a look at an example. 

If you say that you want to be in marketing, that’s a nonspecific goal.

It’s what you usually say to your extended family when you want them to stop bugging you about when you’ll get a job. Again, it sounds nice, and it may even impress your grandparents — but it’s too broad to motivate you to act on it. 

On the other hand, suppose you say you want to land the position of a Junior Marketing Specialist in a Boston tech company. Now, that’s a well-defined, specific goal you can strive for. 

Let’s look at a few prompts to use when crafting your SMART goals.

Questions for specific goals

If you want to make a goal specific, consider answering a few questions. You don’t have to answer all of them, but the more questions you answer, the more specific your goal gets. 

Here they are:

• Q1: What is the goal?
• Q2: What are the details of the goal?
• Q3: What do I want to accomplish with it?
• Q4: Who is involved?
• Q5: Where is it going to happen?
• Q6: What resources are available?

Examples of answers that prove the goal is specific :

• A1: I want to land a Junior Marketing Specialist position.
• A2: I want to apply for 10 job calls each week during the month. At this rate, I’ll land a job faster.
• A3: I want to feel financially stable, enjoy my work more, and generally feel better about myself.
• A4: I’m the chief person responsible for getting the job. Still, I’ll also talk to a few mentors and industry peers to learn how to land a good position.
• A5: I’ll spend a bit more time online, researching and applying for jobs. I’ll look at job boards and create my own portfolio website.
• A6: I’ll have advice from my mentors and the network I’ve established over the years. Also, I’ll ask previous employers to write me recommendation letters.

Step #2: Make goals measurable

Measurable goals consist of specific milestones with clearly defined criteria that help you track your progress on your way to achieving them.

For example, if you just say that you’ll study for your Monday math exam, you might not be actually able to follow through with this plan. 

When you define your goal without a specific, actionable plan, you don’t have any distinguishable milestones to help you stay on track. 

But let’s assume you say that you’re going to study for your math exam for 5 hours each day, leading up to the next to the last day before the exam when you’ll revise everything. Now, that’s a measurable goal with clear milestones and a plan you can follow (and a plan you can stick to).

So, let’s explore 3 questions and 3 answers of measurable goals.

Questions for measurable goals

If you want to make a goal measurable, consider answering the following questions:

• Q1: How will I measure progress?
• Q2: Do I have the necessary tools to measure my progress?
• Q3: How will I know the goal has been accomplished?

Examples of answers that prove the goal is measurable :

• A1: To measure my progress (or lack thereof), I’ll check in with my goal tracking app of choice and get a report on how much time I spent studying for the math exam.
• A2: I’ve recently subscribed to the Clockify goal tracker to track my progress daily. Also, I’ve set a clear learning goal with areas where I expect improvements, like algebra, geometry, and arithmetic.
• A3: Simple math will tell me whether I have accomplished my goal. If by next Monday, my time tracking report shows that I’ve spent 5 hours a day reading, studying, and learning for the math exam, I’ll consider it a success.

💡 Clockify Pro Tip

Whatever SMART goal you set, you should measure and keep track of it with a fitting tool. Here’s the definitive list of the best goal tracker apps you can use for this purpose:

• 12 Best goal tracker apps for 2022

Step #3: Make goals attainable 

Attainable goals are realistic enough for you to successfully reach them. 

Saying that you’ll lose 30 lbs in 1 month is usually not attainable .

In fact, you can expect 2 outcomes that can come from such an overachieving goal — and neither is favorable:

• You go on a strict diet and exercise routine. You stick to your diet without faltering and exercise hard every morning. But, ultimately, you fail because losing that much in such a short time is near impossible.
• You feel discouraged by such an unfeasible goal from the start. So much that you give up without even trying.

On the other hand, saying that you’ll lose 3 lbs every week for a month by eating healthier and exercising regularly is attainable .

With such a reasonable goal, you’ll have the best chance to stay motivated throughout it.

Next, let’s dive into 5 questions and 5 answers of attainable goals.

Questions for attainable goals

To make your goal more attainable, answering the following questions might help:

• Q1: Do I have the financial capacity to accomplish my goal?
• Q2: Do I have the skills and willpower to accomplish my goal?
• Q3: Will I have access to help when needed?
• Q4: Do I have all the necessary resources?
• Q5: Do I have the time to accomplish the goal?

Examples of answers that prove the goal is attainable :

• A1: I have enough money to join a gym and consult with a professional trainer.
• A2: I’ve previously already lost 13 lbs within a month on a different occasion. As a result, I firmly believe I can do it again.
• A3: I’ll have access to a personal trainer, helpful advice from my nutritionist friend, and additional support from my family.
• A4: I have all the necessary resources at hand, as my city has several great gyms. I also have an enviable selection of healthy food in the neighborhood supermarket.
• A5: Considering that I work remotely 5 days a week and my job comes with flexible working hours, I can spare 1 hour per weekday to go to the gym — and I have enough time to prepare healthy meals. I can easily spare even more time for the gym and food preparation on weekends.

Step #4: Make goals relevant 

Relevant goals are the ones that directly impact your progress and are particularly important to you.  

So, to actually stick to your goals till the finish line, you need to make sure your goals are relevant. 

Say you want to major in economics. That sounds relevant and worthwhile, right?

However, you’re not the least bit interested in economics. In fact, you don’t plan on pursuing a career in economics. 

That right there makes it an irrelevant goal, as it’s not clear what you’ll get in life by working toward it. Of course, apart from gaining a college degree. But you could also get a degree by studying something you like .

As you might have guessed, it’s always best to pursue a college education in a topic that interests you. A college education goal may also be relevant if you pick a potentially profitable subject you’re not 100% passionate about, but you want to pursue.

Finally, let’s explore 3 questions and 3 answers of relevant goals.

Questions for relevant goals

To make your goal relevant, ask yourself the following questions:

• Q1: Why is this goal important to me?
• Q2: Is this goal worth my time?
• Q3: Is this the right time for it?

Examples of answers that prove the goal is relevant :

• A1: If I get a major in economics, I’ll be more financially secure and have more time to spend on what matters. Also, pursuing a major in economics will make me more confident about myself and my current career.
• A2: I feel that getting a major in economics would benefit me in the short and long run. In a nutshell, doing so will affect my mental and physical health. Therefore, it’s worth my time.
• A3: The holiday feasts are over, and it’s time to implement the New Year’s resolutions. As a result, it’s time to pursue that major in economics.

Step #5: Make goals time-bound 

Time-bound goals are usually set within a specific time frame, with a clear deadline for their completion. 

Take a look at the following example.

To say that you want to participate in a poem writing contest that’s due next week is admirable.

But phrasing it like that means it’s not a time-bound goal .

In this case, the contest has a deadline — say it’s Sunday, February 2. But you didn’t define a deadline for your work. Will you submit your finished work on Tuesday? Or Wednesday? Or 5 hours before the contest deadline, giving you enough time to tweak it to perfection?

As a matter of fact, what’s your time-bound battle plan?   

Now, say that you plan to handle the contest by:

• Writing the first draft of your poem on Monday, January 27,
• Revising everything on Tuesday, January 28,
• Finalizing the rhyme scheme on Wednesday, January 29, and
• Sending out the poem on Thursday, January 30 — 4 days before the deadline.

That’s a time-bound goal you can work with. So, let’s dive into a few questions and examples of time-bound goals.

Questions for time-bound goals

To make a time-bound — or timely — goal, answer the following questions:

• Q1: When will I achieve the goal?
• Q2: When will I carry out the activities that will bring me to my goal?
• Q3: When can I expect the first outcomes?

Examples of answers that prove the goal is time-bound:

• A1: I’ll set January 31 as my end deadline. Also, I’ll include daily targets for each of the 3 stages — writing, revising, and finalizing the poem.
• A2: Every day after work, I’ll set aside 2 hours to work on the poem. I’ll make a clear schedule for writing, revising, and finalizing the poem in stages. I’ll check in with my progress every day to see if I’m set to meet the deadline of submitting the poem 4 days ahead of schedule. 
• A3: The first outcome I can expect should be completing each stage — writing, revising, finalizing — on a daily basis. For example, if I’ve completed the writing stage, then I can consider my first outcome a success.

Now you know how to set specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound goals. Kudos! 

Next up, let’s get a few additional tips from business experts and life coaches — with SMART goals examples for work, play, and much more.

How to set SMART goals: Proven tips and expert opinions

If you’ve come this far, setting SMART goals shouldn’t be a problem at this point. But just to be safe, I sat down with a few time management experts, business enthusiasts, coaches, and others to help you understand how to be unstoppable with your SMART goals.

Let’s take a look at unique expert insights into setting and sticking to your SMART goals.

Tip #1: Set a SMART action plan and stick to it

Plans come first, as they are a visual representation of your goals. If you don’t have a plan, you’re more likely to get off track. 

But it’s expected that you’ll have more SMART goals than 1. So, I recommend that you:

• Laser-focus on 1 goal in 90-day sprints,
• Spell out each action step in a timeline, and
• Track your progress every week.

I asked Vincent Nair , the CEO of SMARTECH Business Systems, to weigh in on this topic. According to him, setting clear goals will bring you clarity:

“Planning ahead is one of the most effective ways to ensure goals are well-understood, timely and realistic. With a clear schedule and roadmap in place, your entire team will have a better understanding of exactly how, why and when your goals are being set.”

That’s what I call common sense — we truly sometimes need to get back to the basics.

Next, I spoke to Will Yang at Instrumentl, a platform serving grant-seekers. His words were another eye-opener as he said that a SMART action plan must include clear landmarks:

“Ensure apples-to-apples comparisons: it is critical to compare equivalent items and activities when setting SMART goals. For example, if you wish to raise the number of sales calls made in a month, don’t compare it to the number of emails sent in a month. Instead, concentrate on which activity will yield the desired outcomes.”

Learn all about how to think about objectives and key results, with additional resources right here:

• Objectives and Key Results (OKR): everything you need to know

Tip #2: Serialize your goals and celebrate more

If you’re reading this article, it probably means that you are an overachiever or striving to become one. But one of the main pitfalls overachievers fall into is trying to get more done than they can handle, therefore spreading themselves too thin.

I talked to Alexis Haselberger , time management and productivity coach, to share her wisdom on how to avoid this all-too-common trap. She gives a powerful illustration about how you can feel a sense of satisfaction and motivation if you pace yourself:

“Think of it like reading a book: if you read 5 books all at the same time, and read 5 pages each per day, it’ll take you months to finish them all. But, if you start with one book, and read 25 pages a day, you’ll finish in a couple of weeks, and then can move onto the next — which is much more satisfying and motivating.”

To keep a steady pace means creating a workflow that helps you achieve your SMART goals. Career expert Kaloyan Dimitrov of Enhancv, a resume builder, made a good point when he emphasized the importance of enjoying an occasional treat — your milestones:

“Keep yourself motivated and committed to accomplishing your goals by celebrating the milestones that you reach along the route. Think about treating yourself to something special whenever you reach a significant milestone or accomplish a particular goal.”

In fact, it’s this attitude that allows you to feel a sense of accomplishment and get better results.

Speaking of books, read our selection of the best productivity textbooks on the market right here:

• 25+ Best productivity books

Tip #3: Assign people to help you with your goals

Sometimes, you can’t achieve results or accomplish your tasks without the help of others. 

For example, it’s possible to lose weight on your own. However, it’s smarter if you pay for a gym membership, and let a professional fitness coach or a nutritionist help you in that process. In reality, it’s easier and safer to listen to professionals with the right skills and knowledge to carry out tasks.

Likewise, you’ve probably heard about the Boomerang effect on gaining weight back quickly after losing it. This usually happens because people starve and lose a lot of weight in a short period. Not only do they lose weight quickly, but muscles as well. As a result, people experience their metabolism slowing down and regain weight again.

Luckily, you can translate this weight loss scenario into any modern knowledge work job, like:

• Coding, etc.

If you’re the editor-in-chief and would like to have a document proofread thoroughly, you don’t need to do it yourself. Instead, ask a fellow editor or writer on your team to do the job for you.

In fact, assigning the right people for the job can result in faster and higher-quality results.

Tip #4: List the tasks that need to be done

Now that you elaborated on your goal in more detail and assigned the right people to assist you, it’s time to focus on the smaller parts. That means the tasks that must be done to achieve the ultimate goal.

In the case of losing 12 lbs of weight, you’ll probably need to complete tasks like:

• Go to the gym every day after work,
• Put aside money for the gym membership and nutrition consultations,
• Weigh yourself each Sunday afternoon, and
• Eat nutrient-rich foods.

Healthy habits coach Stephanie Averkamp weighs in — pun intended — on this topic. Interestingly, she brings home the point on why you should focus a lot more on your behavior in reaching the goal, and not the final goal itself:

“Center your SMART goals around specific behaviors or actions that will take place instead of around specific results you want to achieve. For example, set a SMART goal that is focused on the exercise you will do instead of the amount of weight you will lose. Your behavior is the one thing you have full control over, and behavior drives results.”

When you break your goal into more manageable pieces, you have a better overview of what needs to be done. In turn, the possibility of achieving your goal increases. For that purpose, you can create a hands-on to-do list to keep track of all your tasks in one place.

Get as many to-do list templates as you need — from simple to business and personal — right here:

• Free To-Do List Templates

Tip #5: Make a workable schedule

To make sure you accomplish your SMART goals even faster, make work time estimates for each activity or task that you need to complete. What’s more, make use of the time blocking technique to organize your tasks into specific blocks of time.

Let’s move back to the weight-loss example again. One of the key things that you need to strictly follow when losing weight is to pay attention to when you eat your meals. 

Even if you are being extremely careful with how many calories you consume daily, eating late at night can decrease your progress and lead to achieving partial results. 

For example, one 2022 study by Harvard Medical School researchers found that late-night eating impacts how you spend energy throughout the day. In fact, the research sheds light on the fact that your productivity overall could suffer from irregular eating schedules. Expectedly, all this negatively affects how you work on your goals.

So, to make sure your SMART goal plan runs smoothly, you need to:

• Create a time-bound schedule that you are going to stick to, and
• Determine when your breakfast/snack/lunch/dinner is. 

After completing these steps, you’ll see tangible results.

On a similar note, registered dietitian Kelsey Costa thinks that journaling can play a major role in creating a workable schedule:

“Journaling can be a powerful tool for increasing self-awareness, reflection, and the attainability of goals. Journaling helps identify obstacles, patterns, and areas of strength that you may need to draw on during your goal-setting journey. Regularly revisit the specifics of your goals, such as action steps, measurements, and deadlines.”

Now, that’s how you stick to your SMART action plan and goals!

Tip #6: Evaluate and explore

So much valuable advice can sometimes be overwhelming. Yet, many experts have a somewhat curious take on how to approach the SMART goal-setting process.

For example, mental performance coach Lain Lee emphasized that comfort isn’t your ally in reaching your goals:

“Instead of ‘realistic’, your goals should be UNCOMFORTABLE! Nothing worth doing or fighting for is done in comfort! The best things in life — growth, success, learning, love — all exist outside of your comfort zone. So if your goals don’t make you uncomfortable, they’re TOO realistic!”

Another interesting approach in conversations with experts came from certified career and life coach María Tomás-Keegan who showed me a way to enrich the SMART criteria with evaluation and revision:

“2 Additional steps make your SMART goals SMARTER: Evaluate & Revise. Decide when you’ll evaluate your progress and what you’ll look for. This step closes the loop on each goal. Then you’ll know if you need to revise your goal or timeline. This creates a 360-degree view of each goal that helps move them to the finish line.”

In sum, do what works for you — try to make SMART goal setting a seamless process aligned with your personality and preferences. 

Remember: You want SMART goals to work for you, not the other way around.

Interested in learning more about how your personality type might influence your productivity? Say no more — I got you covered in our blog post with productivity tips:

• Productivity tips for 16 personality types based on MBTI  

Why should you use SMART goals?

Even ancient Greek philosophers emphasized the importance of goal setting and proposed that purpose can incite action . 

Setting your goals by following the SMART criteria helps you elaborate on them. Similarly, it allows you to see if the current goal you want to achieve has any potential or if it’s just a waste of time , as sometimes can be the case.

Up next, I discuss how the SMART goal concept can benefit you insanely in the short run.

Benefit #1: SMART goals enhance well-being

A 2022 study found that SMART goals can increase the likelihood of accomplishing goals and experiencing positive affect. Simply put, positive affect refers to upbeat emotions and expressions in the study’s respondents.

In fact, the same study researchers suggest that the mere existence of a SMART goal strategy increased the quality of the respondents’ behavior that led to goal attainment.

Another relevant result was that the psychologists in charge of the study established that goal attainment, in this sense, led to enhanced well-being. 

In summary, SMART goals make it likely that you’ll achieve your goals and that those goals lead to your well-being.

Read our detailed guide on how to up your goals game by setting daily targets:

• How to set and reach your daily targets

Benefit #2: SMART goals improve time management skills

Setting goals and efficiently managing your time are 2 elements that go hand in hand. 

If you look at the acronym SMART again, you’ll see that the terms measurable and time-bound refer to time management . So, when you have a clearly defined goal or goals, you know how and where to focus your time. 

What’s more, you can make work time estimates and stick to them to avoid poor spending of resources. Finally, your improved time management skills will help you reduce distractions and increase your focus on more important tasks.

For that purpose, you can opt for a goal-tracking tool like Clockify to get a silent partner in efficiently managing your time and reaching your targets.

For example, Clockify allows you to beautifully tag and color-code your projects so that you can easily stay on track — and enjoy the process. In fact, the app lets you break down goals into manageable tasks that you can easily digest. In sum, Clockify also allows you to check in on your progress and obtain a report on your productivity as often or rarely as you want.

By integrating SMART goals into your daily routine (whether work or personal), you’ll never miss a deadline or find excuses for missing your workout again.

Learn how to improve your time management skills in our in-depth guide:

• 10 ultimate steps to improve time management skills  

Benefit #3: SMART goals increase accountability

To achieve any goal, you need to hold yourself accountable. 

I know I’m not reinventing the wheel here, but people often forget to be more responsible on an ongoing basis.

In fact, Harry Morton of Lower Street, a podcast production agency, says something to that effect. Simply put, he told me that you should expect peaks and valleys in how distracted and motivated you feel:

“When working toward a long-term goal, it can be natural to encounter dips in motivation or distractions. An accountability partner can guide you back on track, offering an objective perspective when you deviate from the path to your goals. Be completely transparent and work with someone who understands what motivates you.”

Benefit #4: SMART goals beat workload overwhelm

A little planning ahead never killed anybody — but work overload and workplace stress are taking a toll on people’s health and the economy. According to a research paper by the World Health Organization, anxiety and depression cost the world’s economy $1 trillion each year, mostly due to a decline in productivity.

However, by setting your personal or business goals, you have a clear picture of what needs to be done, when , where , and how . As a result, the likelihood of feeling burned out reduces tremendously. 

What’s more, when you clearly identify your SMART goals, you learn how to unshakably say “No” to your colleagues the next time they try to swamp you with work. That’s right: SMART goals will save you from exhaustion and stress.

Okay, so now you understand what the SMART goal concept means and why it’s beneficial. Up next, let’s see when SMART goals are the most effective — and when you should avoid them.

Find out more about the causes and symptoms of career burnout and how it affects your health right here:

• Career burnout and its effect on health

When to use SMART goals

Are SMART goals effective?  Yes, when used in the right context.

Here’s when SMART goals work best.

1. Use SMART goals to set priorities

Use the SMART goal criteria when you want to single out your priorities and focus solely on them. 

The SMART criteria should guide you in the right direction to get a better insight into what’s important to accomplish something. 

In fact, the SMART framework saves you from wasting your time. If you don’t set your priorities right, you’ll lose track of your work. What’s more, you’ll probably end up feeling exhausted — and you don’t want that if you were wondering.

Learn why not all tasks are equally important and how you can prioritize them easily:

• How to (re-)prioritize your tasks

2. Use SMART goals to set high-level objectives

Use SMART goals when you need to focus on high-level goals that involve a number of smaller, specific tasks. High-level goals (such as advancing your career, enrolling in a university, or losing weight) demand a thorough action plan the SMART goal concept can offer you. 

However, I would even argue that SMART goals are especially useful for the more consequential targets in your life — where you need to be on top of your game because the stakes are high. That’s why it’s essential to make SMART goals a part of your everyday life and planning.

For illustration, consider you’re moving into a different town or state and selling your house. If you fail to take into account local taxes, regulations, real estate prices, and transport in your SMART goal framework, achieving this goal could lead to a disaster – personally and professionally.

3. Use SMART goals to tackle work tasks and set mini-milestones

SMART goals help you carry out your ongoing job responsibilities more efficiently and successfully. 

In fact, the SMART goal concept helps you split your goal into smaller, more manageable pieces. As a result, you get a clearer insight into the tasks that lead you to achieve the ultimate goal. 

For a quick fix, tackle your tasks one at a time to efficiently get them done and avoid being overwhelmed. The technique works wonders! 

In fact, the family law and relationship expert, Laura Wasser , thinks that you first need to set mini-milestones to get you going:

“When setting a SMART goal, think of it as a roadmap to your desired outcome. Break your goal into smaller, achievable steps, which will make it easier for you to stay on track and motivated. These mini-milestones will not only keep you focused, but they’ll also give you a sense of accomplishment as you progress.”

Read our all-inclusive guide to find out how to break down large tasks into easily digestible pieces:

• How to Break a Project Down into Tasks

4. Use SMART goals to handle new assignments

Employ the SMART goal criteria when you’re moving on to new assignments. 

Whether simple or complex, the SMART goal concept works well with all types of assignments regardless of their complexity or duration. It shifts your attention to what needs to be done and makes a thorough plan to achieve the final goal.

When you get a new assignment, the first step should be to insert it into one of the upcoming SMART goal templates at the end of this guide. This practice shows you if the assignment is even worth your time and effort — or if it’s a priority.

Learn how to distinguish between short-term, medium-term, and long-term plans in your work and life:

• The differences between long-term and short-term planning

5. Use SMART goals for personal development

When you feed the SMART goal criteria into your daily routine, you can make an everlasting, positive change in your life. This way, you can identify areas for improvement and personal growth — and go the extra mile to advance your career.

If you want to perform better at your job by following a comprehensive, step-by-step guide, check out this article:

• How to improve in your job

When SMART goals are not so smart 

Now, just because it sounds like the smart thing to do — pun intended — that doesn’t mean you should view all your tasks and initiatives through the SMART goals framework. 

Take a look at the examples of situations when you should avoid using SMART goals. 

1. Don’t use SMART goals to “count” your successes and failures

You shouldn’t use SMART goal-setting just so you can race past your goals as fast as you can without stopping to take a breather and reflect on what you’ve learned along the way.

You also shouldn’t view a SMART goal you haven’t accomplished as a failure and, thus, a reason to judge yourself.

Just because you failed this time doesn’t mean you won’t be able to succeed next time or use the knowledge you gained from pursuing the said goal in the future.

2. Don’t use SMART goals if you tend to give up too soon

SMART goals take time! That’s because they’re more complex than your everyday goals, such as getting to the food store before it closes.

As such, SMART goals take more effort and dedication. Therefore, they can be a bigger challenge for people who get nervous when they think they’re not progressing as best as they could.If you fear that a goal is too large for you to commit to it, it’s best that you reassess it and parse it 1 by 1 into smaller, less challenging goals you can reach easier until you’ve accomplished everything.

3. Don’t use SMART goals when you’re uncertain whether a goal is attainable

Out of all the letters in the SMART acronym, the “A” — which stands for attainable — is the least precise one.

After all, most of the time, you can only be sure a goal is attainable or not if you’ve already tried to pursue it.

So, are you sure you have a shot at landing the position of that Junior Marketing Specialist at that Boston tech company?

Perhaps you don’t have the right qualifications or the right experience.

We’ve seen this before with our example of losing 30 lbs in a month. 

Let’s assume you pursue a goal you’ve defined as attainable (despite it, realistically, not being the case). In this case, this action is bound to discourage you when you fail to reach your goal.

Alternatively, you may miss out on some great opportunities if you mark a realistic goal as “out of reach” without properly thinking about it.

4. Don’t use SMART goals when managing a project

According to the Scrum methodology, even though the SMART criteria suggest that a goal should be specific and measurable , other SMART goal criteria can threaten the success of a project , no matter how well you prepare it. 

Since a project goes through many stages during its life cycle, some things — like, if a goal is realistic — can’t be predicted in advance without further analysis. Also, the criterion time-bound doesn’t fit with the project management principles either. 

You might not be able to know when a goal would be accomplished due to the constant changes during a project’s life cycle.

Therefore, the SMART goal concept doesn’t go hand in hand with project management since it “encourages a simplistic and short-sighted approach to management” — as Scrum methodology experts emphasize in the article I linked to above.

Learn about the essential elements of project management and a few tools to get you started:

• Project Management: 31 best techniques, practices, and tools

5. Don’t use SMART goals when you expect a challenge

The SMART goal criteria propose that your goal needs to be attainable . In effect, this means knowing in advance if you have the right skills/knowledge/resources to accomplish something. 

When you know that a goal is achievable in advance, it gives you some kind of security. On the other hand, it keeps you stuck in one place. In other words, you are deprived of learning new things or acquiring new skills. 

Sometimes, the thrill of the unknown pushes you towards it and makes you realize all the things you can do. So, if you are a thrill-seeker looking for sudden challenges along the way — maybe the SMART goal concept is not the right fit for you.

—Now that you understand when and when not to use them, here are some examples of well-rounded SMART goals you can use to find inspiration. Let’s get rolling!

5 SMART goal examples

By now, you might be thinking: “ Enough with the beating around the bush, tell me what’s a SMART goal example, alright!”

I won’t give you 1 but 5 SMART goals examples — how’s that for a treat? 

Let’s go through them 1 by 1.

Example #1: SMART goal for improved performance at work 

To say, “ I want to improve my Excel skills, ” is too vague. Instead, try to make your goal:

• Specific : I want to improve my performance with Excel to get a promotion at work. These performance improvements focus on quicker data entry, more efficient calculations, and creating graphs.
• Measurable : I’ll know I’ve succeeded because — by the 1st of next month — I’ll be able to enter my data, complete my calculations through custom and combined formulas, create graphs, and carry out my other work in Excel all on my own, and with minimum effort.
• Attainable : I have enough time to work on improving my Excel skills. I can even look for a website with tutorials or enroll in an online course to help me understand some of the finer points.
• Relevant : I like working in my company, and I want to continue working there. One of the preconditions of my staying in the company longer and getting promoted is to streamline my work in Excel.
• Time-bound : I want to perfect my performance with Excel by May 1.

Are you familiar with performance improvement plans (PIP)? Check this article out to learn more about how PIPs can boost your work performance:

• Everything about performance improvement plans

Example #2: SMART goal for improved time management

Here’s an example of poor goal setting: “I want to accelerate the process of calculating in Excel.”

Instead, your goal should have the following attributes:

• Specific : It takes me 6 hours to implement all the formulas I need to process data in Excel. I want to cut that time to 3 hours per day, at least.
• Measurable : I can track the time I spend handling Excel data every day and then observe how that time decreases day by day and week by week. Similarly, I can work on improving my schedule.
• Attainable : I have the resources to help me learn how to be more efficient when using and combining Excel formulas.
• Relevant : I currently spend 6 hours of an 8-hour workday carrying out calculations in Excel, and that’s too much of my time. Cutting that time in half would ensure I have more time for other work activities.
• Time-bound : I want to cut the time I spend on Excel calculations in half by the 15th of next month.

Example #3: SMART goal for students 

Your grades won’t get better overnight, and you sure want to get into a top school or university. Well, saying, “I want to improve my GPA,” won’t do miracles. Instead, make sure your goal is:

• Specific : I want to improve my GPA to 3.8 so I can apply for a semester abroad with a full scholarship.
• Measurable : I’ll need to score an A or A+ on all of my tests this semester to improve my total GPA to an average of 3.8 to qualify for a semester abroad on time.
• Attainable : In recent months, I have fallen behind in school, but I have a history of improving my grades when I put substantial effort into it. So I can improve my grades once again. I’ll need to work longer hours , temporarily cut back on extracurricular activities, and focus on each test and quiz as it comes along.
• Relevant : The school abroad I want to spend a semester at has a great chemistry program. Passing that program will come in handy when I go to college. There, I want to major in chemistry to become a Chemical Engineer.
• Time-bound : I want to improve my GPA to 3.8 by the end of this semester to qualify for a position at the college abroad in question.

Students need all the help they can get when it comes to mastering their output. Read our in-depth guide to learn how to radically increase your productivity:

• Student guide to productivity

Example #4: SMART goal for leadership and team management 

Do you notice a stall in your team’s productivity? Being a team leader can be a double-edged sword from time to time. However, SMART goals can come to your rescue even in this situation. 

To help you get started, ensure your goal to boost your team’s productivity is:

• Specific : I want to motivate my team to improve their productivity by 50%.
• Measurable : 50% of increased productivity will trigger a 50% faster project turnaround.
• Attainable : I’ll use team management software and supply my team with the right productivity tools to help them out.
• Relevant : Higher productivity means faster project turnaround, and faster project turnaround leads to satisfied clients. Satisfied clients bring good word of mouth, so we’ll likely land more clients because of it. As a result, team morale would increase, so they’ll feel encouraged to keep up the good work.
• Time-bound : I want to see the expected increase in productivity 6 months from now.

Discover more interesting aspects of team management and how it can affect performance right here:

• The Complete Team Management Guide

Example #5: SMART goal for weight loss and fitness

You know that I’m-hitting-the-gym-next-Monday attitude never got you anywhere. Most people (including myself) consider going to the gym or exercising in any form as exhausting. In other words, we most frequently see exercise as something that requires a ton of will and determination. 

Although it’s not easy, setting a goal based on the SMART goal concept can make it much more bearable and joyful. 

Once you are on the right track, you’ll regret missing your workouts, even during public holidays. So, be all ears and ensure that your goal is:

• Specific : I want to lose 10 pounds to improve my fitness and athletic performance.
• Measurable : I want to lose belly fat and be able to endure physical activities without getting tired easily.
• Attainable : Suppose there’s a gym near my building with group fitness classes, indoor cycling, a weight loss program, Pilates, and more. I’m going to try the weight loss program first to lose some fat and later switch to Pilates to form my body shape. Also, I’m going to avoid fast food and late-night snacking.
• Relevant : I like to look nice in my clothes, and physical appearance matters to me. Fast food is high in cholesterol, and high cholesterol runs in my family. As a consequence, I need to be extra cautious.
• Time-bound : I need to go to the gym 3 times a week, go places on foot, and hopefully lose 10 pounds within 2 to 3 months. This is a healthier plan since — if I lose weight in a short time — I will gain it all back eventually.

Learn a thing or two about how physical and mental fitness can help you become more productive and reach your goals:

• 10 Productivity exercises for body and mind

SMART goal templates

Skilfully crafted SMART goal templates and SMART goal worksheets can serve as your quick and efficient generator of — you guessed it — SMART goals. 

In the following section, you’ll find different examples of templates, including:

• Leadership SMART goals examples,
• Time management SMART goals examples,
• SMART goals examples for employees, 
• Productivity SMART goals examples, and more.

In fact, these SMART goals templates and SMART goals worksheets provide the outline for your SMART goal setting. As a result, you’ll just need to follow the said outline and fill it out with your data. It’s a fast and efficient alternative to creating and following your template or making plans without one.

Basic SMART Goal Template

The first of 10, the Basic SMART Goal Template is a simple yet powerful way to get a bird’s-eye view of your goal. 

The straightforward design of this template allows you to easily identify the key components of your goal. If you use the Basic SMART Goal Template, you are taking the first step towards your professional or business goal.

What is the Basic SMART Goal Template about? 

The Basic SMART Goal Template is divided into 5 sections, each representing a letter of the SMART acronym: 

• Specific, 
• Measurable, 
• Attainable, 
• Relevant, and 
• Time-bound.

How to use the Basic SMART Goal Template?

Answer 1 or 2 questions for each section to determine whether the said goal is worth your time. Next, think about if you missed some important aspects and rewrite where applicable.

Who should use the Basic SMART Goal Template? 

This SMART goal template is perfect for people who want a simple approach to setting their goals.

⬇️ Download the Basic SMART Goal Template PDF

⬇️ Download the Basic SMART Goal Template Google Docs

⬇️ Download the Basic SMART Goal Template Excel

⬇️ Download the Basic SMART Goal Template Google Sheets

Basic SMART Goal Template (+ Problems)

The next on our list, the Basic SMART Goal Template (+ Problems) is same as the previous template — just on steroids. 

This template is an effective tool for setting and achieving goals. The Basic SMART Goal Template (+ Problems) gives you deeper insights into the resources and persons who may assist you in reaching your goals.

What is the Basic SMART Goal Template (+ Problems) about? 

The Basic SMART Goal Template (+ Problems) is divided into 5 sections on 2 pages each. 

The first page consists of questions to understand the problems you face. The second page is made up of a cheat sheet that can help you solve those problems.

How to use the Basic SMART Goal Template (+ Problems)?

Answer 1 or 2 questions for each section to determine whether the said goal is worth your time. Next, think about the problems you may encounter as you work toward the said goal — and try to solve them before they happen.

Who should use the Basic SMART Goal Template (+Problems)? 

This SMART goal template does wonders for preventing potential problems with your goal (if you want a simple SMART breakdown of your goal). The Basic SMART Goal Template (+Problems) is perfect for businesses and individuals who want to predict financial and organizational issues.

⬇️ Download the Basic SMART Goal Template (+ Problems) PDF

⬇️ Download the Basic SMART Goal Template (+ Problems) Google Docs

⬇️ Download the Basic SMART Goal Template (+ Problems) Excel

⬇️ Download the Basic SMART Goal Template (+ Problems) Google Sheets

Simple SMART Goal Template

The Simple SMART Goal Template is a more relatable and direct template with phrases that anyone can fill out fast. 

Yet, it’s fairly simple and can only get you so far. That said, it’s an awesome first step to get you started on setting your SMART goals!

What is the Simple SMART Goal Template about? 

The Simple SMART Goal Template lets you determine why you want to pursue your goal — and start planning your goal. It’s a simple illustration of your SMART goal.

How to use the Simple SMART Goal Template?

Answer each question in as much detail as possible. As soon as you’re done, consider if you’ve left out any important information – and add it accordingly.

Who should use the Simple SMART Goal Template? 

This SMART Goal Template is perfect for people who want to set SMART goals but don’t necessarily want to answer to SMART criteria.

⬇️ Download the Simple SMART Goal Template PDF

⬇️ Download the Simple SMART Goal Template Google Docs

⬇️ Download the Simple SMART Goal Template Excel

⬇️ Download the Simple SMART Goal Template Google Sheets

Elaborate SMART Goal Template

The Elaborate SMART Goal Template guides you through your thought process with in-depth prompts. 

This template takes you beyond superficial goal-setting. In other words, the Elaborate SMART Goal Template digs deeper into your potential, desires, and plans.

What is the Elaborate SMART Goal Template about? 

The Elaborate SMART Goal Template is divided into 5 sections, each representing a letter of the SMART acronym:

How to use the Elaborate SMART Goal Template?

After downloading your preferred template, answer a detailed list of questions for each section to determine whether the said goal is worth your time. You may also need to tweak your answers as you go, and that’s totally fine.

Who should use the Elaborate SMART Goal Template? 

This SMART Goal Template is perfect for people who need more pointers on whether the goal they want to pursue is SMART or not.

⬇️ Download the Elaborate SMART Goal Template PDF

⬇️ Download the Elaborate SMART Goal Template Google Docs

⬇️ Download the Elaborate SMART Goal Template Excel

⬇️ Download the Elaborate SMART Goal Template Google Sheets

Elaborate SMART Goal Template (+ Problems)

The Elaborate SMART Goal Template (+ Problems) is a helpful tool to establish problem areas and solve each. 

The template contains useful prompts on resources and people you can check in with to help you reach your goals faster.

What is the Elaborate SMART Goal Template (+ Problems) about? 

The Elaborate SMART Goal Template (+ Problems) consists of 5 sections on 2 pages each. 

The first page features a series of questions of the SMART framework. In contrast, the second page consists of a cheat sheet for solving problems you established on the first page.

How to use the Elaborate SMART Goal Template (+ Problems)?

Answer a detailed list of questions for each section to determine whether the said goal is worth your time. After that, think about the problems you may face as you work toward the said goal — and try to solve them before they happen.

Who should use the Elaborate SMART Goal Template (+ Problems)?  

This SMART goal template is great for preventing potential problems with your goal — in case you want a more detailed SMART breakdown of your goal. The Elaborate SMART Goal Template (+ Problems) is perfect for businesses and individuals who want to explore financial and organizational concerns in depth.

⬇️ Download the Elaborate SMART Goal Template (+ Problems) PDF

⬇️ Download the Elaborate SMART Goal Template (+ Problems) Google Docs

⬇️ Download the Elaborate SMART Goal Template (+ Problems) Excel

⬇️ Download the Elaborate SMART Goal Template (+ Problems) Google Sheets

SMART Goal Tree Template

The SMART Goal Tree Template is a nugget of gold on our list of SMART goal templates. 

It’s a treasure trove of valuable insights and direct measurement tools to reach your goals in an efficient and effective manner. 

What is the SMART Goal Tree Template about? 

The SMART Goal Tree Template helps you select and track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that tell you how well you’re progressing with your goal.

How to use the SMART Goal Tree Template?

To use this more complex template, set up at least 3 indicators for your goal. Then, insert measures to track progress, and reach the targets. 

For example, the overall goal could be: “Improved customer satisfaction by 50%.”

An indicator for this goal would be: “ The number of calls, requests, and emails taken by customer support and ending in happy resolutions. ”

The 2 measures we can use to calculate the indicator could be: 

• “Professionally and cheerfully handling customer requests, calls, and emails,” and
• “Creating an incentive system for customer support agents to be better in their job”.

Finally, the 2 targets for each measure could be:

• “50% more calls/emails handled more professionally and cheerfully by customer support,” and
• “Managers in the customer support team giving positive employee reviews weekly”.

Who should use the SMART Goal Tree Template? 

You can use this template to measure success in various business areas, such as:

• Customer support, 
• Company finance, 
• Internal processes, and more.

⬇️ Download the SMART Goal Tree Template PDF

⬇️ Download the SMART Goal Tree Template Google Docs

⬇️ Download the SMART Goal Tree Template Excel

⬇️ Download the SMART Goal Tree Template Google Sheets

SMART Action Plan Template (+ Action Steps and Responsibilities)

The SMART Action Plan Template (+ Action Steps and Responsibilities) is just what it sounds like. 

This template calls for responsibility and sets out steps on your way to reaching your professional and personal goals. In fact, it gives you immediate feedback on whether you’ve reached your objectives in the end.

What is the SMART Action Plan Template (+ Action Steps and Responsibilities) about?  

The SMART Action Plan Template (+ Action Steps and Responsibilities) lets you determine the value of a goal by asking you to explain how or why the said goal is:

• Time-bound. 

Then, you can add the person responsible for the said goal and lay out the steps you need to go through to reach success.

How to use SMART Action Plan Template (+ Action Steps and Responsibilities)?

After downloading this action plan template, respond to each prompt and fill out the steps you need to complete to reach your goal. Also, you can name the responsible persons or entities that need to help you on this journey.

Remember that nothing is set in stone, and you can always rewrite it if you spot inconsistencies or flaws in your original plan.

Who should use the SMART Action Plan Template (+ Action Steps and Responsibilities)? 

Great for teamwork within a project where each teammate has different goals and responsibilities that together tie into one greater purpose. Also great for goals that imply a specific set of steps (or tasks) you need to tackle to reach them.

⬇️ Download the SMART Action Plan Template (+ Action Steps and Responsibilities) PDF

⬇️ Download the SMART Action Plan Template (+ Action Steps and Responsibilities) Google Docs

⬇️ Download the SMART Action Plan Template (+ Action Steps and Responsibilities) Excel

⬇️ Download the SMART Action Plan Template (+ Action Steps and Responsibilities) Google Sheets

New Year SMART Goal Template

The New Year SMART Goal Template prompts you to provide an overview of your personal and professional aspirations for the coming year. 

As a result, this template goes above and beyond to explore which goals you truly want to pursue — or not.

The New Year SMART Goal Template requires that you make a bit of a long-term commitment.

What is the New Year SMART Goal Template about? 

The New Year SMART Goal Template lets you define SMART goals for your:

• Personal growth, 
• Health, 
• Business life, 
• Family and friends, 
• Travels, 
• Hobbies, and 
• New purchases in the new year.

How to use the New Year SMART Goal Template?

As soon as you download your preferred format, answer the prompts in as much detail as possible. 

For example, in the Personal growth section, you can list things such as “Start meditating every day for 30 minutes” or “Read 20 book pages daily” and go from there.

Who should use the New Year SMART Goal Template? 

This template is perfect for carrying out your New Year’s resolutions. So, you can be a university student, a freelancer, or anyone else pursuing goals in the coming year.

⬇️ Download the New Year SMART Goal Template PDF

⬇️ Download the New Year SMART Goal Template Google Docs

⬇️ Download the New Year SMART Goal Template Excel

⬇️ Download the New Year SMART Goal Template Google Sheets

SMART Goal Template for Project Managers

The SMART Goal Template for Project Managers is a clear, concise, and descriptive tool to get to the hows and whys of your project management goals. 

In turn, it helps you lead your team and create a roadmap for success in a short period.

What is the SMART Goal Template for Project Managers about?  

The SMART Goal Template for Project Managers consists of 5 sections. 

With this template, you can assess each goal you want to assign to a team member. In fact, you can decide whether the goal needs redefining or even whether it’s worthwhile (or unattainable by the assigned team member) in the first place.

How to use the SMART Goal Template for Project Managers?

Answer 2 questions per section to set and define a goal any project manager might face. Similarly, remember that you can tinker with the details and rewrite anything you deem necessary at any point during the process.

Who should use the SMART Goal Template for Project Managers? 

This SMART goal template is perfect for managers who are currently defining the goals and objectives of a project. You can also consider this template as a way to establish SMART goals for better time management.

⬇️ Download the SMART Goal Template for Project Managers PDF

⬇️ Download the SMART Goal Template for Project Managers Google Docs

⬇️ Download the SMART Goal Template for Project Managers Excel

⬇️ Download the SMART Goal Template for Project Managers Google Sheets

SMART Goal Template (+ Rewards/Motivations) 

Last but not least, the SMART Goal Template (+ Rewards/Motivations) presents a powerful tool for learning what motivates you to reach your goals. 

By taking the time to understand what drives you, you can tap into your intrinsic motivation and stay focused on your short-term and long-term goals even when things get tough.

What is the SMART Goal Template (+ Rewards/Motivations) about? 

The SMART Goal Template (+ Rewards/Motivations) lets you assess whether a goal is specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. 

Then, you can define the motivations and rewards that stand behind your pursuit of the said goal.

How to use the SMART Goal Template (+ Rewards/Motivations)?

To get to the bottom of your rewards and motivations, simply respond to 5 questions from the SMART framework, followed by 2 questions on how you’ll make the goal motivating and rewarding. 

Who should use the SMART Goal Template (+ Rewards/Motivations)? 

Rewards are important to keep you motivated enough to pursue a goal. I suggest you pick this SMART goal template if you want to define specific rewards that await you when you reach a goal.

⬇️ Download the SMART Goal Template (+ Rewards/Motivations) PDF

⬇️ Download the SMART Goal Template (+ Rewards/Motivations) Google Docs

⬇️ Download the SMART Goal Template (+ Rewards/Motivations) Excel

⬇️ Download the SMART Goal Template (+ Rewards/Motivations) Google Sheets

Estimate task and project duration better — with Clockify

Our last quick tip on handling your goals is this: Limit how much time you allocate to tasks and projects.

Hear us out. 

You can use time management software like Clockify to block out parts of the workday and complete your workload. To create tasks, follow these steps:

• Go to a project you’re working on,
• Open the Tasks tab in the project,
• Type your preferred task name, and

After you’ve completed these steps, you can insert them into your Clockify calendar (like below). In fact, you’ll be able to move, split, and resize each task and project as you see fit.

If your task takes longer than you expected, you can use this knowledge to make better time estimates for future goals. In any case, you’ll be able to set more realistic objectives.

Now, imagine hitting your goals not just on time but ahead of schedule. Sounds good?

Optimize your daily routines, reach professional milestones, and gain greater clarity on projects and tasks.

Marija Kojic is a productivity writer who's always researching about various productivity techniques and time management tips in order to find the best ones to write about. She can often be found testing and writing about apps meant to enhance the workflow of freelancers, remote workers, and regular employees. Appeared in G2 Crowd Learning Hub, The Good Men Project, and Pick the Brain, among other places.

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Your complete guide to SMART goals (with examples & a free template)

Most professionals realize the importance of establishing workplace goals. They spur great performance, increase motivation, align teams, boost engagement levels, and even drive profitability. However, the majority of companies still fail to set effective objectives: 51% of organizations don’t even attempt to develop aligned goals (1), leading to 1 in 3 employees being unsatisfied with internal goal setting (2) and as many as 90% of businesses not achieving their strategic objectives (3).

There’s certainly a disconnect between how vital people think putting productive goals in place is and how often companies do it well.

The well-known SMART guidelines constitute one strategy that ambitious, dynamic organizations can use to start setting better goals that are equal parts meaningful, realistic, and actionable. In this article, we’ll not only explain what SMART goals are, but we’ll also provide you with a free, downloadable SMART goal template and discuss a couple of detailed examples.

• Phoenix Business Journal , 2020
• Leapsome Workforce Trends Report , 2023 ‍
• Economist Impact , 2021 ‍

💡 Want to make your goals SMART? Simply download our free SMART goal template and we’ll help you write your own. 👉 Download the template

What are SMART goals?

SMART is a framework that enables people to establish goals that are both actionable and achievable. That’s because it prompts them to carefully define and evaluate their objectives, while also helping them keep track of their progress along the way. SMART goals were initially developed in the 1980s by George T. Doran , but the world has seen several versions and iterations since then.

As defined in Dr. Osahon Ogbeiwi’s 2017 study on SMART goals : “Writing objectives as SMART statements is the gold standard for goal setting because it gives a clear direction for action planning and implementation.”

SMART goals are popular in professional contexts such as project management and performance management, but some also use them for personal development. Most importantly, the framework is popular because it’s easy for just about anyone to use, doesn’t require any specific training, and makes goal setting a more structured process. The SMART acronym is most commonly broken down as follows:

S — Specific

M — Measurable

A — Achievable

R — Relevant

T — Time-bound ‍

💡Pro tip: SMART goals and objectives and key results (OKRs) are two of the most common professional goal-setting frameworks. If you’re curious about the differences between SMART goals and OKRs , we’ve got a detailed article dedicated to just that topic.

Leapsome’s SMART goal setting template

Many professionals have a general understanding of what SMART goals are and what the acronym means, but they nevertheless find it hard to put the criteria into action when establishing their own objectives. This template will get you on the right track by proposing a series of reflective questions that’ll empower you to set goals that are more specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.

🧠 Never set a SMART goal before? Our convenient free template includes the top questions you should ask yourself when formulating yours. 👉 Download the template

The breakdown: How to develop your own SMART goals

Though the SMART guidelines are known for their simplicity, many people still have trouble putting them into action. It might sound great to develop objectives that are measurable and relevant, but how does that look in practice?

Let’s break down what each part of the SMART acronym stands for and consider how to integrate it into your goal-setting process in a meaningful way. ‍

Many people make the mistake of establishing objectives that are too vague or that they haven’t defined and reflected on sufficiently. This is a serious misstep: Unclear goals are far more difficult to reach, because you won’t really understand what you’re working toward. They’re also less motivating and satisfying, since you can’t clearly visualize what you’re striving for. This was proven as early as 1976, when a famous study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology on goal clarity, goal setting participation, and job satisfaction found that the more specific people’s goals are, the more motivated they become. That, in turn, increases the likelihood of individuals accomplishing their objectives successfully.

When developing your own SMART goals, ask yourself the following questions to make your objective more specific:

• What’s the most precise version of my goal? (Remember to account for the who, what, where, when, and why.)
• What will my goal accomplish?
• What granular actions will I have to take to reach my goal? ‍

Next, define how you’ll monitor your progress while working toward your goal and, ultimately, how you’ll know when you’ve been successful. It’s also ideal to leverage goal-setting software like Leasome to streamline the way you keep track of your advancement and connect your objectives with those of the team and company.

In his 2013 study Making SMART Goals Smarter, Les Macload underlines some of the reasons why building measurable goals is so crucial: “Specific measurement criteria will eliminate the possibility of future disagreements. Also implicit in the measurement criteria is the important concept of accountability. It’s much more difficult to avoid accountability when measurement criteria are clear and not subject to interpretation.”

Consider the following questions to transform your goal into something more measurable:

• How will I know when I’ve achieved my goal?
• How will I keep track of my progress while I’m working toward my goal?
• Will I leverage any specific metrics to monitor how I’m moving toward my goal? Which ones and why? ‍

Any objective should be at least a little bit ambitious, but consider whether you’ll realistically be able to accomplish your goal with the time and resources you have and the situation you’re currently in. There’s no point in establishing a goal that you won’t be able to follow through on, as it’ll be both frustrating and demotivating.

Indeed, a 2020 study from the Queen Mary University of London found that when people consider the effort that’s necessary to achieve a goal and focus on the rewards of those efforts in the long term, they’ll be more likely to accomplish their objective.

Keisha Moore-Medina , a therapist at the Menninger Clinic in Houston, TX, specializes in goal setting. In an NPR article, she further explains why setting achievable goals is so vital: “It’s a reality check on just how much time and resources you have to devote to it. And, it sometimes begs a bigger question: ‘Why should I commit to this goal?’”

Try reflecting on these questions to check that your goal is achievable:

• Do I have the skills, time, and/or resources I need to achieve my goal?
• If not, can I acquire them or get additional assistance? ‍

Now, think about why the goal you’re establishing should be prioritized above other potential pursuits. If you’d like to set a target for career growth, consider how it fits in with your present professional situation. Imagine you’ve been thinking of learning Spanish. If you’d like to eventually pursue a transfer to the Spanish branch of the company, this would make it an important and time-sensitive goal. If your interest is not tied to a current need for the language, it would be better for your professional development to focus on other, more immediate objectives and consider learning Spanish as a longer-term personal development goal.

There’s also another aspect to this guideline. Even if your goal might not immediately appear relevant to your current professional situation, intentionally reflecting on its relevance will give you a chance to dig into and justify why it actually does deserve priority at that time.

These questions can help ensure your goal’s relevancy:

• Why am I establishing this goal now? 
• How does my goal fit with my short and long-term professional objectives?
• How is this goal helpful or meaningful to me? ‍

Last, define when you want to fulfill your goal. It’s essential to specify the timeframe for effective goal setting as it’ll encourage your focus on this target within a certain period and let you know whether you’re on track with the initial time estimate. To avoid having to adjust the timeline as you go, consider defining deadlines for different milestones — especially if you’re pursuing a more complex objective.

Les Macload discusses why ‘time-bound’ is an essential part of the SMART goal framework in his 2013 study : “As soon as possible is simply not an acceptable time frame. Without a predetermined deadline, there’s only a general notion about due dates, which in turn generates a less than rigorous pursuit of closure. Where there’s only a loose expectation of closure, prioritizations and associated time management requirements are more apt to lack needed discipline.”

The following questions will prompt you to add a time-bound element to your goal:

• When do I want to achieve my goal?
• Does my goal encompass several milestones, or is there one solid deadline? What are they?
• Are the milestones and/or deadlines I’m establishing for my goal realistic? ‍

🤝 We’ll help you write your own SMART goals Our template uses intentionally designed questions to guide you from vague aspirations to detailed objectives ‍ 👉 Download the template

2 examples of professional SMART goals in action

Now that we’ve discussed what SMART goals are and provided you with the template and complementary information you need to begin writing yours, let’s consider a couple of examples of how SMART goals can look in professional settings to give you some initial ideas. ‍

1. Build a remote freelancer onboarding process

In this case, let’s imagine that a team lead needs to create an onboarding process for remote freelancers . They’re working with freelancers more and more and have realized that their current approach to onboarding isn’t ideal for remote workers.

Now, let’s improve this goal with the SMART guidelines:

• Specific — I’ll revise our current approach to freelancer onboarding, discuss it with colleagues and community members and ask for their input, do my own industry research, determine which aspects I can keep and which aspects I need to change, and share the finished result with the people team for a last review.

• Measurable — Once new hires have gone through their first 90 days with the company, I’ll send them an employee survey on the onboarding process and ask for their feedback on it. Leapsome’s Surveys module will analyze their responses and use the resulting data to keep track of onboarding satisfaction rates. I’ll also rely on the Instant Feedback module to prompt team members for input on their experience with freelancers who have gone through the revamped onboarding program and investigate whether they seem more informed and better equipped to carry out their work than before. ‍ ‍
• Achievable — I have the skills and resources I need to build an excellent onboarding process for remote freelancers. The leadership team agrees that we need a revamped onboarding approach for remote freelancers. They’ve given me the okay to time block an hour and a half each day to work on this, which will provide me with the time I need. ‍ ‍
• Relevant — We’ve been working with an increasing number of freelancers over the last quarter, and it’s become clear to me and the broader team that our current onboarding approach isn’t adequately preparing them for their work or meeting their needs. ‍ ‍
• Time-bound — I’d like to have the new remote freelancer onboarding process ready to upload into our project management software one month from now. I’ll need approximately two weeks to take stock of the situation and do my research, a week to come up with an initial draft, and another week to ask colleagues to give it a final review.

Of course, it’s not realistic to include all those details in the final SMART goal, but consider how much more reflection, intention, and planning went into the SMART version of this objective when compared with the initial idea. The finished SMART goal might look something like this:

• Revamp our onboarding process for remote freelancers over the next month to better integrate rising numbers of them into our workflows, prepare them to effectively collaborate and carry out their work sooner, and increase their satisfaction rates. ‍

2. Improve attention to detail

Now, let’s consider a marketing team member who’s been with the organization for a year. Overall, they’re performing well, but in the recent review with their manager, they collaboratively decided that they needed to improve their attention to detail skills.

Let’s consider how to elevate that goal with SMART guidelines:

• Specific — I know that my work is strong in general, but it could be made even better if I was more thorough and meticulous in my attention to detail. More specifically, I want to learn more about our company’s tone of voice (TOV) and try out strategies to ensure the marketing content I produce aligns with it more consistently. I also struggle with unclear writing and typos from time to time, which I find hard to correct with self-editing alone, so I’d like to focus on that as well. ‍ ‍
• Measurable — I’ll refer to my Q4 performance review scores to gauge how well I’m progressing toward this goal. For Q3, my skills in this field were rated slightly “below expectations,” and in Q4, I’d like to be rated as “consistently meeting expectations.” I’ll also ask my colleagues for peer assessments and informal feedback on my attention to detail to get a more balanced, nuanced view of my development.

• Achievable — I’m performing well overall and my manager and peers had actionable recommendations for growth in this category, so I’m well-positioned to improve over a relatively short period with a combination of learning materials, 1:1 check-ins, and coaching and shadowing sessions with colleagues and more senior team members. ‍ ‍
• Relevant — This is the competency where I need to improve the most, so it makes sense to prioritize. Once I excel in all the performance categories that are relevant to my current role, I’ll be able to progress through my department’s career development framework and work toward an eventual promotion . ‍ ‍
• Time-bound — I’d like to work on this consistently throughout Q4 and make an improvement before my quarterly performance assessment.

Considering all the information above, the marketing team member’s SMART goal could be:

• Improve my attention to detail during Q4 using a combination of learning activities, development-focused check-ins, coaching, and shadowing sessions, and reach a score showing that I “consistently meet expectations” on my next quarterly performance review. ‍

💭 Need guidance developing SMART goals? Our free, downloadable SMART goal template will prompt you to consider all the necessary details for complete, actionable objectives.   👉 Download the template

Elevate your goal-setting & tracking process with Leapsome

Goal setting is crucial for people-centered, forward-thinking organizations that want to motivate and engage employees, foster a collaborative work environment, and drive great performance. However, many leaders fail to support their people in defining goals that are both challenging and achievable, which leads to them missing out on top-level results.

As we’ve seen, SMART guidelines are one strategy that professionals can use to establish effective goals across all levels of their organization. However, it’s even better to use holistic goal-setting software like Leapsome to set, collaborate on, track, and revise individual, team, and company goals.

Our Goals module supports different goals frameworks — including SMART and OKRs — and enables users to visualize their progress, prompt colleagues for feedback, and align their aspirations with company objectives.

Leapsome knows that establishing great goals is one thing, but leveraging intelligent software to meaningfully integrate them into people’s day-to-day workflows will take their impact to new heights. ‍

⚡ Supercharge your SMART goals Leapsome’s Goals module integrates with Reviews, Instant Feedback, and Meetings to enrich the goal-tracking progress, promote collaboration, and foster success. 👉 Book a demo

 FAQs about SMART goals

1. what are the benefits of a smart goal.

There are several benefits to SMART goals. Some of the most significant ones are simple: The framework is easy for anyone to use, doesn’t require specific training, and prompts people to carefully consider their goals while they’re establishing them, which leads to better, more achievable objectives. More specifically, the SMART goal approach enables professionals to:

• Cut through the noise, reflect on what they want to accomplish, and get precise about their aspirations
• Strike a balance by setting targets that are both realistic and challenging
• Define specific metrics and criteria to help measure goal progress and success
• Reflect on how their goals align with the company’s big-picture objectives and long-term success
• Break down goals into milestones and set deadlines that are both sensible and motivating ‍

2. How do SMART goals help employees?

SMART goals help employees because they’re more intentional, actionable, and achievable than the basic goals people come up with in brainstorming sessions. The beauty of the SMART framework is that it provides people with simple, easy-to-use guidelines that prompt them to carefully consider their goals anddefine how they’ll keep track of their success. This process results in employees establishing more gratifying goals that are aligned with their current priorities and realistic for them to attain. ‍

3. OKRs vs. SMART goals: Which is more effective?

The question shouldn’t be whether OKRs or SMART goals are more effective. Instead, focus on determining which of the two goal-setting frameworks better suits your circumstances and fulfills your needs. To help you make that decision, here are some of the biggest differences between OKRs and SMART goals :

• SMART goals follow a set of guidelines, whereas OKRs are based on a structured framework.
• SMART goals focus on the how, whereas OKRs focus on the why.
• SMART goals are better for short-term and smaller projects, whereas OKRs are best for long-term goals.
• SMART goals are more fixed because of their short-term nature, whereas OKRs are often evaluated and adjusted over time.
• SMART goals are ideal for single-metric targets, whereas OKRs work well with multi-metric objectives.

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How to write SMART goals

It’s easier to succeed when you have clearly defined objectives that are based in reality.

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5-second summary

• Teams often fall short of meeting their goals due to a lack of consensus on the definition of success.
• SMART goals use a specific set of criteria to help ensure that objectives are clearly defined and attainable within a certain timeframe.
• Working through each step of creating a SMART goal can reveal instances where priorities and resources are out of alignment.

Meet Jane. She’s a product manager at a mid-sized tech company – let’s call it Techfirm, Inc. Jane has been tasked with increasing usage of Techfirm’s mobile app.

She knows she’ll need all hands on deck to make this happen, but when Jane has set team-wide goals in the past, they’ve quickly fallen off track. Nobody seemed to have a clear understanding of what success should look like; progress wasn’t monitored closely enough, and inevitably, that important objective slipped to the back burner (before toppling off the stove entirely).

That’s why, this time around, Jane plans to leverage SMART goals for setting an action plan and staying the course.

Want to get started right now?

Use our template to define the different components of your SMART goal.

What are SMART goals?

The SMART in SMART goals stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound.

Defining these parameters as they pertain to your goal helps ensure that your objectives are attainable within a certain time frame. This approach eliminates generalities and guesswork, sets a clear timeline, and makes it easier to track progress and identify missed milestones.

An example of a SMART-goal statement might look like this: Our goal is to [quantifiable objective] by [timeframe or deadline]. [Key players or teams] will accomplish this goal by [what steps you’ll take to achieve the goal]. Accomplishing this goal will [result or benefit].

Let’s use Jane’s objective to work through each component.

S: Specific

In order for a goal to be effective, it needs to be specific. A specific goal answers questions like:

• What needs to be accomplished?
• Who’s responsible for it?
• What steps need to be taken to achieve it?

Thinking through these questions helps get to the heart of what you’re aiming for. Here’s an example of a specific goal Jane might come up with:

Grow the number of monthly users of Techfirm’s mobile app by optimizing our app-store listing and creating targeted social media campaigns.

M: Measurable

Don’t underestimate the outsized impact of short-term goals

Specificity is a solid start, but quantifying your goals (that is, making sure they’re measurable) makes it easier to track progress and know when you’ve reached the finish line.

Jane and her product team want to grow the number of their mobile app users – but by how much? If they get even one new signup, that’s technically positive growth – so does that mean they’re done? Same goes for their strategy – how many platforms will they advertise on? 

To make this SMART objective more impactful, Jane should incorporate measurable, trackable benchmarks.

Increase the number of monthly users of Techfirm’s mobile app by 1,000 by optimizing our app-store listing and creating targeted social media campaigns for four social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

A: Achievable

This is the point in the process when you give yourself a serious reality check. Goals should be realistic –  not  pedestals from which you inevitably tumble. Ask yourself: is your objective something your team can reasonably accomplish?

Jane might look at her goal and realize that, given her small team and their heavy workload, creating ad campaigns for four social platforms might be biting off more than they can chew. She decides to scale back to the three social networks where she’s most likely to find new clients.

Increase the number of monthly users of Techfirm’s mobile app by 1,000 by optimizing our app-store listing and creating targeted social media campaigns for three social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Safeguarding the achievability of your goal is much easier when you’re the one setting it. However, that’s not always the case. When goals are handed down from elsewhere, make sure to communicate any restraints you may be working under. Even if you can’t shift the end goal, at least you can make your position (and any potential roadblocks) known up-front.

R: Relevant

Here’s where you need to think about the big picture. Why are you setting the goal that you’re setting? Jane knows that the app is a huge driver of customer loyalty, and that an uptick in their app usage could mean big things for the company’s bottom-line revenue goals. Now she revises her statement to reflect that context.

Grow the number of monthly users of Techfirm’s mobile app by 1,000 by optimizing our app-store listing and creating targeted social media campaigns for three social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Because mobile users tend to use our product longer, growing our app usage will ultimately increase profitability.

T: Time-bound

To properly measure success, you and your team need to be on the same page about when a goal has been reached. What’s your time horizon? When will the team start creating and implementing the tasks they’ve identified? When will they finish?

SMART goals should have time-related parameters built in, so everybody knows how to stay on track within a designated time frame.

When Jane incorporates those dates, her SMART goal is complete.

Grow the number of monthly users of Techfirm’s mobile app by 1,000 within Q1 of 2022. This will be accomplished by optimizing our app-store listing and creating targeted social media campaigns, which will begin running in February 2022, on three social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Since mobile is our primary point of conversion for paid-customer signups, growing our app usage will ultimately increase sales.

Knowing how to set goals using the SMART framework can help you succeed in setting and attaining goals, no matter how large or small.

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SMART Goals Explained: Examples & Template

It’s clear: Goals are necessary for growth—in our personal lives, careers, and daily work. But, as it turns out, we’re bad at goal setting.

According to a 2017 study by the Project Management Institute , 17% of projects fail. That’s no small number in a wide business world made up of projects. More interestingly, of the projects in that study that didn’t fail outright, 32% missed their goals. 

Add to that a study done by the University of Scranton that found a staggering 92% of people don’t meet their New Year’s goals, and you start to see a trend.

Why is that? Are we pressing too hard to have a goal, just for the sake of having one? Are we not tracking goals? Are the goals not clear enough? 

There are so many reasons teams and individuals miss the mark. But one is that many of us set a goal without thoroughly exploring and benchmarking it.

You might even set goals and completely miss them because they weren’t clearly articulated. That doesn’t mean your work was all for nothing or that you’re not good at your job. You probably just need to get SMART about goal-setting.

What are SMART goals?

SMART goals are objectives that meet the 5 criteria of the SMART acronym: Specific , Measurable , Achievable , Relevant , and Time-bound .

These criteria help you clarify your goals and set boundaries around them so you can set a lofty goal, while also thinking through tactics to help you better achieve them.

How to write SMART goals

SMART goals provide a framework that not only helps you write a measurable and achievable goal. They also clear up any confusion about what should be done, how long it should take, and when you can celebrate hitting that goal. 

In fact, by doing a little extra work to focus on specifics, SMART goals enable you to set expectations around your accomplishment and plan a path toward meeting it.

The most important thing to understand when developing SMART goals is how to think about the 5 key criteria as you work through them. Here’s how to use each one to write solid SMART goals of your own.

S stands for Specific

There’s no doubt that when you’re specific about a goal—and you do the work to uncover any possible detail—you’ll clear away any ambiguity that might stand in the way of you meeting that goal. 

Determining your goal’s specifics will help you ensure it’s well-defined, well-intentioned, and unambiguous. So this is your opportunity to dissect the goal and get granular about it. 

The following questions can help you or your team get to the details:

• What needs to be accomplished?
• Why do you want to achieve this goal?
• Who’s involved in the goal? Who’s responsible?
• Where will this work need to happen?
• Are there any limitations on the work? 

Thinking through these questions will help you arrive at a more realistic goal that you’re comfortable acting on and discussing with your team, stakeholders, and management.

M stands for Measurable

A well-crafted goal isn’t just specific about what’s intended. It’s also easy to quantify. 

So figure out the best way to measure or track success. You can do this by tracking a total number of actions, a percentage, a dollar figure, or some other number that shows movement toward your goal.

Having trouble coming up with a number? You might need to rethink the goal.

A stands for Achievable

Most experts will tell you, “Go for the gold!” While setting lofty goals isn’t terrible advice, don’t get too far ahead of yourself. After all, it’s awful when you don’t meet a goal, but even worse to miss a goal because it was never achievable in the first place.

This step is a reality check to make sure what you’ve outlined is actually within reach. Look at your goal, and run it through the lens of reality to make sure you aren’t setting yourself up for failure before you even start. 

That’s not an easy thing to do, especially if you want to be aggressive but aren’t sure just how successful you’ll be. To assess your goal’s achievability, explore all possible constraints or limitations that could impede progress. These might include:

• Time/availability and workloads
• Technology/tools
• Required partners and related work

There’s a lot to consider here to ensure you’re setting yourself up for success. What’s most important is to dig deep and make any potential risks or issues clear. That way, if they do become a reality you can revisit the goal without stress.

R stands for Relevant

Chances are, you’ve already touched on the reason you’re taking on your goal in previous steps. But this is your opportunity to fully express why the goal is important to you or your organization.

Identifying a key outcome provides clarity on why you’re doing work and how it will benefit you, your project, or your organization. Having that single guiding light also helps you make decisions or adapt to change through the course of your work.

T stands for Time-bound

Like most projects, goals are finite, and if you miss your deadline, you weren’t successful. 

Goals can be impacted by so many outlying factors, like related projects, events, and teams. That’s why it’s smart to set a deadline for meeting your goal. This not only keeps your goal measurable and realistic. It also keeps everyone involved aligned on what needs to be accomplished and when.

Here’s the thing: You can probably meet most goals with a little more time. But if you can’t do it within a specific timeframe, you might be focused on the wrong tactics to meet that goal. Having a time-based constraint on your goal helps you push toward success and get creative with those tactics.

Lay a clear path to success with a visual plan that’s easy to understand, and keep everyone in sync with flexible workflows and team collaboration.

SMART goal examples for project managers 

So what does a good SMART goal look like? Goals will vary among projects, teams, and individuals. But seeing some SMART goal examples can help you think about how you phrase your goals. 

For instance, this sample SMART goal structure might work for you:

The goal is to [specific, measurable objective] by [date] . [Responsible party or parties] will meet this goal by [tactics to be planned and acted on] . Accomplishing this goal will [result or benefit] for [stakeholder(s)] .

The way you write your goals will be personal to you or specific to your organization and how you communicate, so don’t feel like you have to stick to a specific formula. Feel free to make your goal unique and give it some personality—but DO be sure to explicitly cover the SMART criteria so it’s 100% clear. 

If you’re a project manager, you can use these example SMART goals to inspire your own goal-writing.

SMART goal example 1: You want to increase your team’s output to contribute to overall company revenue

If you work with a team that delivers any kind of product or commodity, the amount produced can tie directly back to metrics like profit.

So let’s say your team makes widgets and you’ve been asked by management to reasonably increase that number. Here’s an example of what your SMART goal might look like:

Our goal is to make more widgets available to our top 10% of customers by the end of Q3 this year. To meet that goal, the widget development team will modify production and increase operations to deliver 20% more product, which equates to 200,000 new widgets produced. Accomplishing this goal will gain the company an additional $2 million in revenue this year.

SMART goal example 2: You want to share your project management knowledge to build your resumé

Personal career goals for project managers can be lofty, but it’s never a bad thing to think outside the box to level up! One way to do that is to begin sharing your ideas and networking with the greater PM community. 

Of course, there are many ways to do this, but your SMART goal might look something like this:

I’m going to create one 45-minute keynote presentation about project planning to be recorded and shared on YouTube by the end of this year. This opportunity will help position me as an expert in planning and will likely provide future networking and job opportunities.

SMART goal example 3: You want to develop formalized process documentation for your company

Project managers are often tasked with non-project work that helps shape organizational operations. These things take time, and often that time is crammed between meetings, planning, and stakeholder requests.

Using the SMART framework can help you determine what you’ll do and, more importantly, think through what you can accomplish. Here’s an example of how you might handle something that will likely take a phased approach:

The project management team will create a detailed process guide that outlines how we work and why—from project initiation to post-mortem. In total, this guide will take 6 months to complete, with deliveries taking place every 2 months. The team will formulate a plan to create a Table of Contents and assess all content needed, then assign writing, editing, and review tasks per section. Upon completion, the company will have a go-to guide to educate our team and stakeholders on how we work. This will be used in new employee onboarding, stakeholder education, and sales and will be central to how our projects operate.

Set SMART goals of your own with our free template

If you’re already writing goals, you’re on the right track! Our free SMART goals template can help you follow the SMART structure and continue on the trajectory to success. 

Just think: You can be part of the 8% of people who actually meet goals—and it doesn’t have to be all that painful! 

Use our template and examples to develop SMART goals for your projects, team, organization, or career. By thinking through your objectives with a lens on the details, you’ll set yourself up for success!

Download our free SMART goals template!

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What are SMART goals? Examples and templates

Vague goals that lack clarity are often left undone, even if they have great potential. Transform fuzzy objectives into attainable goals with the SMART goals framework. SMART is an acronym for specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound. In this article, we'll dive into why each element of the SMART goals acronym is essential and how to apply them to your own goals.

But hitting an ambitious goal isn’t just about reaching for the stars—you also need a path to get there. That’s where SMART goal setting comes in. With SMART, you can make sure every goal—from project goals all the way to larger company objectives—has everything you need to achieve it. Here’s how.

What are SMART goals?

So, what are SMART goals? Fundamentally, SMART goals are a way of setting objectives that are clear, trackable, and achievable. The SMART goals acronym stands for five crucial qualities your goals should have: 

Measurable 

Achievable 

When you're deliberating the meaning of SMART goals, think of them as a tool to transform lofty resolutions into a concrete roadmap. The SMART goals acronym can help you build a blueprint for success in personal and professional settings alike.

How to write SMART goals

Writing SMART goals is all about breaking down your objectives into smaller, more manageable components that are easy to track and achieve. Here's a simple step-by-step guide to make the goal-setting process a breeze.

Keep in mind that you’re setting your SMART goal to attain a specific objective—not a broad one. You don’t just want any initiative to succeed; you want your specific project to succeed. To make sure you can achieve them, make sure your goals are specific to what you’re working on.

For example, instead of creating a goal to raise more money, you might create a goal to raise $20,000 by the end of the year. This is much more specific and gives you a roadmap to work off of. In this case, you can break down how much you need to raise each day to hit your goal and then create an action plan that enables you to hit that number every day.

The “M” in SMART stands for measurable, which helps you evaluate the success or failure of your project. Your goals should have some sort of objective way to measure them—whether that’s a deadline, a number, a percent change, or some other measurable element.

One way to do this is with benchmarks. Benchmarks show you what’s “normal” for specific, recurring scenarios in your company, so you know what to expect. Using standardized benchmarks, you can set more relevant goals that are easier to measure. For example, let’s say you have a benchmark showing that you have three new marketing campaigns each year to help you hit key performance indicators . You can then use that benchmark to set measurable goals to track progress for both the launches and their related KPIs.

You don’t want your goals to be easy to achieve, but you also want to make sure you’re setting goals that you could, conceivably, hit. Achievable says that your goals shouldn't be totally outside the realm of possibility. Ask yourself this question: Is the goal within your project scope ? If not, it’s not Achievable.

For example, let’s say you want to learn to speak Spanish in order to be competitive in your field. If you’ve never spoken a word of Spanish before, you can’t expect to be fluent by next month. That simply isn’t an achievable goal. However, you could set a goal to learn from your foreign language app for 20 minutes every day. By establishing a consistent practice, you can set a more achievable goal.

What about stretch goals—are those achievable?

Stretch goals are goals that are purposefully challenging. For example, if you usually get 30,000 monthly visitors to your website, a stretch goal would be to get 50,000 monthly visitors. That’s a big increase! But this stretch goal is still within the realm of possibility. Make sure you make your stretch goals ambitious, not impossible—like aiming to go from 30,000 monthly visitors to 300,000 monthly visitors, for example.

The “A” and “R” of SMART are closely related. In addition to setting attainable goals, you also want to set Realistic ones. For example, maybe a goal is achievable, but getting there would require every team member to work overtime for six weeks straight. Even though it might be an achievable goal, it’s not a realistic one. Make sure yours is both by creating a clear resource management plan .

Using our attainable goal example of learning to speak Spanish, the goal of setting 20 minutes aside each day to practice Spanish is both realistic and achievable. On the other hand, a goal to practice speaking Spanish for two hours every day is probably not realistic for most working adults, even though it’s technically achievable.

Your SMART goal should have an end date. Without a time limit, your project could drag on, have unclear success metrics , and suffer from scope creep . Deadlines provide a sense of urgency so that short-term tasks don’t drag into long-term goals unnecessarily. If you haven’t already, make sure you outline a clear project timeline .

Deadlines are crucial to implementing goals, since they pretty much force you to take action. If you want to have more focus time at work, you can decide to set a goal to only check your email for 30 minutes every day. But without a deadline, it’s easy to brush it off. Imagine instead if you set a goal to only check your email for 30 minutes every day for one week—now, it starts to feel more attainable.

SMART goals pros and cons

Making sure your important goals have all of the SMART components might be more time-consuming than setting regular goals, but the value you get from SMART goals outweighs the additional time spent on the goal-setting process. Goals shouldn’t be something you set and forget—they’re a key part of your project planning process. When setting SMART goals, here’s what you and your team can expect.

Pros of SMART goals

Clear communication and alignment. When your project team knows exactly what they’re working towards, they’re more motivated and aligned as a team. Team members who know how their individual work contributes to broader company goals are 2X as motivated as their counterparts. Setting and sharing SMART goals can help you boost your entire team’s motivation.

Clarity towards project success. Have you ever gotten to the end of a project and not really known if you hit your project goals or not? SMART goals help you set clear goals, so you can avoid vague or confusing goal language.

Clear roadmap and finish line. With SMART goals, you know exactly what you want to achieve and when you expect to achieve it. You’ve verified that these goals are realistic and achievable. And you know you’ll be able to measure them to see if you hit them or not.

Trackable metrics. When you finish your project, SMART goals help you evaluate its success. Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t achieve it. In fact, at Asana, we aim to hit about 70% of our goals. That way, we know we’re setting challenging—but possible—goals. Whether you hit your goal or not, SMART goals can help you evaluate your goal, and you can learn from that.

Effective resource allocation. SMART goals make it easier for managers to distribute necessary resources efficiently, whether that's staff, budget, or even time.

Motivation and career development. When goals are achievable and relevant, it boosts team morale. It also creates opportunities for individual career development, as team members may need to acquire a new skill to meet their objectives.

Cons of SMART Goals

Oversimplification. Although the SMART goal framework can be incredibly effective for clarifying objectives, it may also lead to the oversimplification of more intricate, multilayered goals. If your goal is complicated, consider breaking it down into smaller sub-goals before using the SMART framework.

Short-term focus. The emphasis on time-based objectives might discourage more visionary planning, especially around the long-term mission of your business. If this applies to your situation, try creating a vision statement instead. 

Potential to hinder creativity. SMART goals can box you in. Their strict guidelines make you zero in on specific tasks, leaving little room for unexpected, game-changing ideas.

Possibility for a narrow focus. Adopting a SMART objectives approach could lead to tunnel vision, causing team members to lose sight of the organization's broader strategic goals. To avoid this, make sure to connect your SMART goals back to larger organizational objectives —so it’s clear why they matter and how they’re contributing to business success. 

Resource intensive. Smaller teams might feel a bit overwhelmed by the need for measurable outcomes. This is because tracking those metrics often requires investing time and money in specialized analytics tools. 

5 SMART goals examples

Ready to get started? Before you write your own, take a look at these five examples of SMART goals to see how each one aligns with the SMART criteria.

1.  Business goal

Example: Produce at least three different types of large-scale marketing assets (e.g. ebook, webinar, videos, sales one- or two-pagers) per month for Q1.

Why it’s SMART: This business goal is specific (large-scale marketing assets) , measurable (three different types) , achievable and realistic (this depends on how many project team members there are, but we can assume there are enough to cover the three assets per month), and time-bound (per month for Q1) .

2. Team goal

Example: The product team will partner on five cross-functional projects focused on usability testing, customer surveys, customer marketing, or research and development during the first half of FY22.

Why it’s SMART: This goal is specific (projects focused on usability testing, customer surveys, customer marketing, or research and development) , measurable (five cross-functional projects) , achievable (five projects in six months), realistic (the project spans the entire product team), and time-bound (during the first half of FY22) .

3. Professional goal

Example: During 2021, I will develop my management skills through mentorship, with at least two mentees from either our company Employee Resource Groups or my alumni network.

Why it’s SMART: This goal is specific (management skills through mentorship) , measurable (at least two mentees) , achievable and realistic (this person has given themselves two different avenues through which to find mentees), and time-bound (during 2021) .

4. Personal goal

Example: I will train to run the March San Diego half marathon in less than two hours.

Why it’s SMART: This goal is specific (San Diego half marathon) , measurable (in less than two hours) , achievable (two hours is an ambitious but doable pace for most runners with proper training), realistic (this person has established they will train in preparation for the half marathon), and time-bound (March) .

5. Nonprofit goal

Example: We will provide 100 hours of free tutoring for middle school students in math and history during the month of February.

Why it’s SMART: This goal is specific (tutoring for middle school students in math and history) , measurable (100 hours) , achievable and realistic (depending on the amount of volunteers the nonprofit has), and time-bound (during the month of February) .

6 steps to make your goal SMART

When you’re ready to set your own SMART goal, kick things off by jotting down your project objective in a sentence or two. Then fine-tune it with each of the five SMART attributes. 

To make the goal-setting process smoother, you can use this SMART goals template to get some hands-on practice in setting your SMART objectives.

1. Initial goal:   Write down whatever your initial goal is. Don’t worry about it not being completely SMART—we’ll get to that later in the template.

Example: I want to improve our company brand on social media.

2. Make it Specific:   Does your goal define exactly what you want to do? If not, re-work the language to make it specific to your particular project.

Example, continued: Improve our company brand on Instagram with company-specific hashtags.

3. Make it Measurable:   Have you established how you’ll measure your goal once your project is complete? If not, add a way to measure success or failure at the end of your project.

Example, continued: Develop company-specific hashtags to generate 1,000 new Instagram followers.

4. Make it Achievable:   Is your goal something you can achieve, given your project scope? Make sure this specific goal falls within your project capabilities.

Example, continued: Develop and use company-specific hashtags, in conjunction with popular hashtags in our industry, to generate 1,000 new Instagram followers.

5. Make it Realistic:   Can your project team reasonably hit your goal? Even if it’s a stretch goal, make sure this is something you can accomplish with your resources.

Example, continued: Post once daily on Instagram, and ensure every post has a mixture of company-specific hashtags and popular hashtags in our industry in order to generate 1,000 new Instagram followers.

6. Make it Time-bound:   When will you achieve your goal? Make sure you clarify your target date or time frame in your SMART goal.

Example, continued: Post every workday on Instagram for the first half of FY22. Ensure every post has a mixture of company-specific hashtags and popular hashtags in our industry in order to generate 1,000 new Instagram followers by June 30th.

What to do after creating your SMART goals

Do you track your goals in emails, meetings, or spreadsheets? If so, you’re not alone. According to the Asana Goals Report , 53% of businesses track their goals via email, 36% track them in spreadsheets, and 31% track them in in-person meetings.

The challenge with tracking your goals is finding a way to connect your goals with your team’s daily work. You’ve taken all of this time to create a SMART goal—keeping it front of mind can help you make sure you achieve it. At Asana, we believe goals should be closely connected to the work they’re, well, connected to. Here’s how you can do that:

1. Share your SMART goals with project stakeholders and team members

At the start of the project, make sure you surface your SMART goals to everyone involved in the work. Your SMART goals should guide your whole team as you work on project deliverables, so you know exactly whether or not you hit your project objectives.

The best way to do that is with a work management tool like Asana. That way, your team has a central source of truth with all information in the same place—from your daily work all the way to your project’s goals. Instead of hiding your goals in docs, decks, and other hard-to-find places, connect them to your daily work so everyone is motivated, focused, and on the same page.

2. Check in on progress regularly

In addition to sharing your SMART goals with your team at the beginning of your project, make sure you periodically measure the progress you’ve made towards your goal. You don’t want to work on the project and then find, at the very end of the work, that you’ve missed your goals. You’ve worked hard to set specific, measurable goals for a reason—you can use them as your north star, and course correct during your project if necessary.

The best way to regularly check in on your SMART goals is to send weekly project status updates . Status updates are a great way for you to highlight the important work your team did, any upcoming milestones, and whether or not you’re on track.

3. Evaluate your success

SMART goals bring clarity to your goal-setting process—so you can gauge exactly whether or not you hit your project goals. If you did, it’s time to celebrate! And even if you didn’t, having such clear goals—and checking in on your goals regularly—can help you best identify what went wrong and where you can do better next time.

Remember, not hitting your goals doesn’t mean your project was a total failure. You may have purposefully set a stretch goal to challenge yourself or your team. Even if you didn’t set a stretch goal, it’s more important to calmly evaluate why you missed your target rather than pretend it didn’t happen. That way, you can learn from your mistakes and bring those learnings with you the next time you set SMART goals.

Set smarter goals

SMART goals can help your team succeed by bringing clarity into the goal-setting and project management processes. When your team has clarity and is moving in the same direction, they’re more likely to be motivated and to know what work to prioritize.

Visualizing and tracking your goals both makes them easier to measure and achieve. In Asana, you can set, track, and report on your SMART goals all in one space. With the ability to connect with everyone on your team and share with stakeholders, you can coordinate everything you need to achieve your most ambitious goals.

SMART goals FAQ

What does the smart goals acronym stand for.

The SMART goals acronym stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. George T. Doran popularized this framework, which offers a methodical approach to setting goal-specific objectives. By following the SMART acronym, you're more likely to set specific goals that are both effective and achievable.

What are the 5 SMART goals

The 5 SMART goals refer to the five criteria that any SMART objective should meet. These are:

Specific: Clearly defined objectives that spell out what you aim to achieve.

Measurable: Quantifiable goals that allow you to track your progress.

Attainable: Goals that are challenging yet achievable, ensuring you're not setting yourself up for failure.

Relevant: Objectives that align with your broader aims and values.

Time-bound: Goals that come with a deadline promote effective time management.

How do I write a SMART goal?

To write a SMART goal, begin by defining what you specifically want to accomplish. Next, determine how you'll measure success and ensure that your objective is attainable. Make sure the goal is relevant to your broader life or career ambitions. Finally, add a timeframe to create a sense of urgency. A well-crafted SMART goal might look like this: "I want to increase my LinkedIn network by 200 connections within the next three months."

What are the best SMART goals?

The best SMART goals are those that are closely aligned with your own or your organization's broader aims, serving as stepping stones toward your ultimate goal. They should challenge you while still being achievable. These goals should be easily measurable and promote effective time management, allowing you to allocate resources wisely. For example, if career development is a priority, an excellent SMART goal could be "to complete an advanced course in digital marketing within the next six months."

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Article • 12 min read

SMART Goals

How to make your goals achievable.

By the Mind Tools Content Team

Key Takeaways

• SMART goals are S pecific, M easurable, A chievable, R elevant, and T ime-bound.
• They allow you to write goals that are clear, attainable and meaningful.
• Having clarity in your goal-setting provides the motivation and focus you need to be successful.

The trouble with not having a goal is that you can spend your life running up and down the field and never score.– Bill Copeland

Do you ever feel like you're working hard but not getting anywhere? Maybe you see little improvement in your skills or achievements when you reflect on the last five or 10 years. Or perhaps you struggle to see how you'll fulfill your ambitions during the next few years.

Many people spend their lives drifting from one job to another, or rushing around trying to get more done while actually accomplishing very little. Setting SMART goals means you can clarify your ideas, focus your efforts, use your time and resources productively, and increase your chances of achieving what you want in life.

In this article, we'll explore what SMART goals are, and we'll look at how you can use them to achieve your objectives.

Learn how to set SMART goals with our video and transcript .

What Are SMART Goals?

SMART is an acronym that you can use to guide your goal setting. To make sure your goals are clear and reachable, each one should be:

• S pecific (simple, sensible, significant).
• M easurable (meaningful, motivating).
• A chievable (agreed, attainable).
• R elevant (reasonable, realistic and resourced, results-based).
• T ime bound (time-based, time limited, time/cost limited, timely, time-sensitive).

Its criteria are commonly attributed to Peter Drucker's Management by Objectives concept. The first-known use of the term was in the November 1981 issue of Management Review by George T. Doran. Later, Professor Robert S. Rubin (Saint Louis University) wrote about SMART in an article for The Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology. He stated that SMART has come to mean different things to different people, as shown above.

Professor Rubin also noted that the definition of the SMART acronym may need updating to reflect the importance of efficacy and feedback. However, some authors have expanded it to include extra focus areas; SMARTER, for example, includes E valuated and R eviewed.

What Are the SMART Criteria?

SMART Criteria

How to Write a SMART Goal

Paul J. Meyer, businessman, author and founder of Success Motivation International , describes the characteristics of SMART goals in his 2003 book, " Attitude Is Everything: If You Want to Succeed Above and Beyond ." We'll expand on his definitions to explore how to create, develop and achieve your goals:

1. Specific

Your goal should be clear and specific, otherwise you won't be able to focus your efforts or feel truly motivated to achieve it. When drafting your goal, try to answer the five "W" questions:

• What do I want to accomplish?
• Why is this goal important?
• Who is involved?
• Where is it located?
• Which resources or limits are involved?

Imagine that you are currently a marketing executive, and you'd like to become head of marketing. A specific goal could be, "I want to gain the skills and experience necessary to become head of marketing within my organization, so that I can build my career and lead a successful team."

2. Measurable

It's important to have measurable goals, so that you can track your progress and stay motivated. Assessing progress helps you to stay focused, meet your deadlines, and feel the excitement of getting closer to achieving your goal.

A measurable goal should address questions such as:

• How will I know when it is accomplished?

You might measure your goal of acquiring the skills to become head of marketing by determining that you will have completed the necessary training courses and gained the relevant experience within five years' time.

3. Achievable

Your goal also needs to be realistic and attainable to be successful. In other words, it should stretch your abilities but still remain possible. When you set an achievable goal, you may be able to identify previously overlooked opportunities or resources that can bring you closer to it.

An achievable goal will usually answer questions such as:

• How can I accomplish this goal?
• How realistic is the goal, based on other constraints, such as financial factors?

You might need to ask yourself whether developing the skills required to become head of marketing is realistic, based on your existing experience and qualifications. For example, do you have the time to complete the required training effectively? Are the necessary resources available to you? Can you afford to do it?

Beware of setting goals that someone else has power over. For example, "Get that promotion!" depends on who else applies, and on the recruiter's decision. But "Get the experience and training that I need to be considered for that promotion" is entirely down to you.

4. Relevant

This step is about ensuring that your goal matters to you, and that it also aligns with other relevant goals. We all need support and assistance in achieving our goals, but it's important to retain control over them. So, make sure that your plans drive everyone forward, but that you're still responsible for achieving your own goal.

A relevant goal can answer "yes" to these questions:

• Does this seem worthwhile?
• Is this the right time?
• Does this match our other efforts/needs?
• Am I the right person to reach this goal?
• Is it applicable in the current socio-economic environment?

You might want to gain the skills to become head of marketing within your organization, but is it the right time to undertake the required training, or work toward additional qualifications? Are you sure that you're the right person for the head of marketing role? Have you considered your partner's goals? For example, if you want to start a family, would completing training in your free time make this more difficult?

5. Time-bound

Every goal needs a target date, so that you have a deadline to focus on and something to work toward. This part of the SMART goal criteria helps to prevent everyday tasks from taking priority over your longer-term goals.

A time-bound goal will usually answer these questions:

• What can I do six months from now?
• What can I do six weeks from now?
• What can I do today?

Gaining the skills to become head of marketing may require additional training or experience, as we mentioned earlier. How long will it take you to acquire these skills? Do you need further training, so that you're eligible for certain exams or qualifications? It's important to give yourself a realistic time frame for accomplishing the smaller goals that are necessary to achieving your final objective.

Used with Permission from The Meyer Resource Group,® Inc.

The Pros and Cons of SMART Goals

SMART is an effective tool that provides the clarity, focus and motivation you need to achieve your goals. It can also improve your ability to reach them by encouraging you to define your objectives and set a completion date. SMART goals are also easy to use by anyone, anywhere, without the need for specialist tools or training.

Various interpretations of SMART have meant that it can lose its effectiveness or be misunderstood. Some people believe that SMART doesn't work well for long-term goals because it lacks flexibility, while others suggest that it might stifle creativity. For more information on the potential weaknesses of SMART, see our article, Locke's Goal-Setting Theory .

Frequently Asked Questions About SMART Goals

What does smart stand for.

SMART stands for S pecific,  M easurable,  A chievable,  R elevant, and  T ime-bound.

What about SMARTER goals?

In this expanded acronym, the E stands for Evaluated, and the R for Reviewed.

Who invented SMART goals?

The SMART goals concept is commonly attributed to Peter Drucker, author of Management by Objectives . The first-known use of the term was in the November 1981 issue of Management Review by George T. Doran.

What’s an example of a SMART goal?

Let’s say you’re a marketing executive, and you think you'd like to become head of marketing. This is a specific goal. You might measure your goal of gaining the skills to become head of marketing by deciding it will take five years. Ask yourself whether gaining these skills is achievable , based on your existing experience and qualifications. Are you at the right point in your career? Is it relevant to what you want? Give yourself a realistic time frame for accomplishing the smaller goals that are necessary to achieving your final objective.

How do I write a SMART goal plan?

• Start by asking exactly what you need to accomplish. This will make your goal specific.
• Quantify your goals. Measurable goals are easier to track, so build in milestones.
• Your goal should be achievable. Is this something you can do with the resources at your disposal?
• Think why you’re setting this goal. How will it improve your life or career? This is what makes it relevant.
• Know exactly when you’ll have reached your goal. Have a firm schedule, and stick to it.

For other goal-setting resources, see our articles, Golden Rules of Goal-Setting , Using Well-Formed Outcomes in Goal Setting , Personal Goal Setting , and Treasure Mapping .

• SMART is a well-established tool that you can use to plan and achieve your goals.
• While there are a number of interpretations of the acronym's meaning, the most common one is that goals should be S pecific, M easurable, A chievable, R elevant, and T ime-bound.
• When you use SMART, you can create clear, attainable and meaningful goals, and develop the motivation, action plan, and support needed to achieve them.

Rubin, R. (2002). Will the Real SMART Goals Please Stand Up? [online]. Available here . [Accessed January 27, 2016.]

Meyer, Paul J. (2003). " Attitude Is Everything: If You Want to Succeed Above and Beyond ." Waco, TX: Meyer Resource Group.

Haughey, D. (2014). A Brief History of SMART Goals [online]. Available here . [Accessed January 27, 2016.]

Smart Goals Guide, (2014). Why Goal Setting Is Important [online]. Available here . [Accessed January 27, 2016.]

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SMART Goals Template

Set a specific goal and develop realistic strategies to reach it with the SMART goal template. Keep focused and set your team up for success.

Trusted by 65M+ users and leading companies

About the SMART Goals Template

The SMART Goals template helps you think strategically about your targets and develop a clear plan to accomplish them without sounding too vague or unrealistic. The SMART method points you in the right direction, and that’s why many professionals and teams use this methodology to create their strategies. It’s a great tool to design a plan and keep track of your progress.

What are SMART goals?

SMART is a framework that stands for: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely. Keep each of these parameters in mind anytime you set a goal to adhere to the SMART framework. Setting SMART goals ensures that your objectives are both achievable and clear to all team members.

The SMART model can also be used to reevaluate and refine goals during the run of a project.

Benefits of setting SMART goals

Setting goals can be overwhelming, especially for a big project. It’s hard to conceptualize every step from the beginning, leading to objectives that are too broad or too much of a stretch.

SMART goals, by contrast, allow you to set goals that are clear, actionable, and effective. When working with a team, SMART goals help you stay aligned, agree on objectives, and keep up with deadlines. As an added benefit, you can loop in new employees without conducting extensive, time-consuming training and inform stakeholders easily by sharing the SMART Goals template.

Set your own SMART goals

Miro is the perfect tool to create and share your team’s SMART goals. Get started by selecting this SMART Goals template. Then, follow these steps to fill in each section:

S - Specific

What do you want to accomplish?

To be specific, add as many ideas as you can to identify patterns and determine the particular goal you want to pursue. Be careful not to get too broad and instead think about a specific area of focus.

As you brainstorm, add sticky notes, move them around the board, and cluster ideas with shapes and frames to stay organized.

M - Measurable

How will you know when you accomplished your goal?

Make sure your goals are measurable by adding details, metrics, and performance indicators, making note of anything you want to track. You can also add more templates to your board like Gantt charts , milestone charts , or action plans to have a more complete overview of a project.

A - Attainable

How can the goal be accomplished?

To make your goals attainable, consider splitting them into smaller steps that you prioritize so you can achieve results quickly. And, think about whether the goals are realistic, given constraints like financing.

R - Relevant

Will the goal meet your short- and long-term needs?

To ensure your goals are relevant, be sure to align them with your company’s goals, mission, and vision. You can easily share your goals with leaders to get their input.

When will the goal be accomplished?

To create timely goals, make sure each one gets assigned a deadline, whether short-term (“what can I do today?”) or long-term (“what can I do in six months?”). Time-bounded goals ensure lofty ideas can be broken down into actionable steps and make tracking milestones easier and more efficient.

Example of a practical SMART goal framework

Here is a practical example of how you can put the SMART Goal framework into practice within the marketing context:

GOAL: your marketing team will increase brand awareness by 5% this quarter by revamping the content strategy and creating new content that improves your lagging brand awareness.

Specific: to increase brand awareness by 5%.

Measurable: if they achieve less than 5%, fail to revamp content strategy, or do not create new content, they have not reached their goal.

Attainable: the team has outlined the necessary steps for achieving this goal.

Relevant: the team acknowledges that their current brand awareness is lagging.

Time-based: the team has determined that they will achieve their goal by the end of the quarter.

Why use SMART goals?

The SMART Goals framework helps you to set objectives in a way that is not confusing or vague, giving you a concrete and clear framework to reach your desired outcome. It’s a straightforward tool, and that’s why many professionals use SMART to keep their plans in check and track progress as they execute their strategies. The SMART Goal method is also a great way to design growth plans, either professional or personal, creating room to develop a purpose and fulfilling path.

How do you write a SMART goal?

Start writing a specific goal with as much detail as possible. Then, add a measurable action to achieve it, followed by what is needed to accomplish this action and what’s relevant and might influence your process. Set deadlines and timelines to keep track of your progress to finalize it. Remember, write goals that seem realistic and detailed, so you can easily follow what you are setting out to do.

Get started with this template right now.

Weekly Planner Template

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A weekly planner is a schedule that outlines your plans and activities for the week ahead. It helps you manage your time, keep track of your tasks, and organize your team on a day-to-day basis. Unlike traditional planners, which are often non-customizable, this weekly planner can be modified to suit your specific needs.

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REAN Template

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First introduced in Cult of Analytics, the REAN model is used to measure and understand the efficacy of marketing efforts. REAN stands for Reach, Engage, Activate, and Nurture, the main stages a marketer’s audiences experience during a typical journey. The REAN model helps marketing teams develop useful KPIs that can help capture how well their marketing or ad campaigns are working. Many teams rely on the REAN model because it is adaptable to a variety of marketing efforts, including planning measurement frameworks, setting goals, deciding on objectives, and mapping digital marketing channels.

Creative Brief Template

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Even creative thinkers (or maybe especially creative thinkers) need clear guidelines to push their ideas in productive, usable directions. And a good creative lays down those guidelines, with information that includes target audience, goals, timeline, and budget, as well as the scope and specifications of the project itself. The foundation of any marketing or advertising campaign, a creative brief is the first step in building websites, videos, ads, banners, and much more. The brief is generally prepared before kicking off a project, and this template will make it easy.

Floor Plan Template

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RICE Prioritization Template

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Home Blog Business Setting SMART Goals – A Complete Guide (with Examples + Free Templates)

Setting SMART Goals – A Complete Guide (with Examples + Free Templates)

Businesses today are more focused on effective strategic planning and goal setting than ever. At first sight, these processes might seem pretty straightforward. However, there’s so much more going on behind the scenes. Companies dedicate a lot of time and resources to goal based strategic planning . After all, they determine the company’s future liquidity and success. This post covers the concepts related to goal-setting and the SMART criteria, their respective benefits, and instructions for writing SMART goals.

SMART Goals Definition and Meaning

What are the benefits of setting smart goals, setting the scope of a smart goal, writing the content of a smart goal, s – specific, m – measurable, a – achievable, r – relevant, t – time-bound, a smart goals template, learn how to set smart goals, to conclude, what are smart goals.

“ Goal setting and task performance: 1969-1980 ” was the first study to promote the importance of setting achievable yet challenging goals. It found that 90% of people perform better with relevant and challenging goals, translating to higher business efficiency and profits.

Over the years, management and marketing teams came with different alternatives for goal setting and enhancing workplace performance . One widespread process is using the SMART acronym.

George T. Doran, a consultant and former Director of Corporate Planning for Washington Water Power Company, first introduced the SMART acronym. He published a paper titled There’s a S.M.A.R.T. Way to Write Management’s Goals and Objectives in November 1981.

Fast forward, the five rules or criteria known as SMART today serve as a psychological tool for increasing productivity . A SMART goal can foster a clear and mutual understanding of what constitutes expected performance levels and successful professional development, but also to achieve personal goals.

SMART is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound.

The SMART goals acronym eliminates generalization and guesswork, thus setting the base for tracking progress and identifying missed deadlines. When a business entity defines these five parameters, it essentially ensures its team will attain the listed objectives within a predetermined time frame.

SMART is an effective tool with growing popularity. Businesses worldwide incorporate the criteria for strategic planning and goal setting due to the following benefits:

How to Write SMART Goals?

The following section consists of the steps in the process of writing SMART goals, including practical examples to form a comprehensive goal statement.

SMART goals can address a wide range of job responsibilities, most commonly day-to-day job activities. Business entities primarily apply the SMART criteria to direct their attention and resources towards the most critical aspects of their operation, thus achieving their priorities .

SMART goals can cover different personal or business objectives, such as increasing/decreasing, developing, making, improving, and saving something (resource, expense, revenue, time, etc.).

Setting the scope of a SMART goal is a three-step process with the aim of help meeting personal or business goals:

Note : If a business has too many goals, it can indicate that they are developed at a too low level and meeting the business goals can be challenging in these situations. These goals are more task-oriented instead of focusing on the broader picture and the result. A practical solution to this problem is combining several statements into one, more comprehensive goal.

A general goal has a lower chance of being accomplished compared to a SMART goal.

An example of a general goal: “ I will increase my profits this year “.

First, SMART goals are always specific, providing enough detail to eliminate a general goal’s indecision.

An example of a specific goal: “ The sales department will increase my profits this year by increasing my marketing efforts in the domestic market “.

Specific goals answer the famous “W” questions:

Note : Not every specific goal has to answer all questions. They are given as a starting point; it’s a non-exclusive list.

A specific SMART goal is a solid base but worth almost nothing without the proper metrics in place. Setting metrics to determine whether a business will attain the goal and track progress makes the goal more tangible. Usually, this translates to numbers or customer/employee satisfaction.

A measurable goal usually answers questions, such as the following:

An example of a measurable goal: “ The sales department will improve my profits by 15% this year by increasing my marketing expenses by 5% in the domestic market “.

Note : A business can easily measure these indicators since they are expressed in numbers (revenues, expenses, profits) – these are quantitative measurements.

However, a measurable goal can take another form: “ The sales department will improve my profits by 15% this year by increasing customer satisfaction in the domestic market “.

The second refers to qualitative measurements that cannot be assessed as easily. An entity, in this case, will need to think in terms of customer feedback, testimonials, ratings, surveys, and so on. In the long term, customer satisfaction translates to customer/brand loyalty and increased profits. Still, these effects are difficult to quantify.

Can the business improve profits by 15% in a single year? Is this the reality of its niche (is it a fast-growing one, is there a demand for these products/services)?

On the other hand, does the entity have the needed capital and resources to increase expenses by 5%? Or will this decision harm its operation, in debt the company in the long-term, or harm its market position?

These, and a range of other questions, should be considered. A business might need to stretch its abilities, develop new skills, change attitudes, or identify previously overlooked opportunities. Still, they should be able to achieve the set goal promptly. If the goal turns out to be too optimistic, the team might think of other, more viable alternatives.

A single SMART goal statement should be consistent and make sense within the broader image and business mission . All of an entity’s departments should move in the same direction, or in other words, be aligned.

A relevant SMART goal answers the following questions:

The time-bound element in the goal is “this year”, so that there’s no need to expand the statement. Still, it would help to break down the deadline into shorter milestones since a year is pretty broad. A better alternative would be:

“ The sales department will improve my profits by 3% this month/quarter by … . “

A time-bound goal usually answers the following questions:

With a timeline, a business will rarely overlook the importance of a goal. With the lack of it, the company can easily commit to day-to-day activities or occurring crises and forget what should have been a priority in the first place.

The SMART Goals Templates are a tool that facilitates the presentation of the goal-setting process and outcomes. It helps businesses better present their goal statements and communicate them with related parties.

SMART Goals templates are usually divided into several sections, taking a form similar to the following:

A business starts by writing the initial idea. Then, it answers the listed questions as specified in each section above, respectively. In turn, the company can create a more practical goal statement.

The following template might help your entity write a SMART Goal:

Filling in the gaps might lead to examples, such as the following:

Here’s an excellent example of a SMART goals template, depicting the seven-step goals-based strategic planning process :

Through the SMART Goals Template free we invite you to set your main goal and generate a conversion process towards SMART Goals. Thanks to this exercise you will be able to rethink your goal through different questions that will guide you towards the SMART methodology.

SMART Goals Examples

1. free smart goals powerpoint template.

The Free SMART Goals Template is a PowerPoint presentation that will allow you to communicate your business goals using the SMART methodology. Thanks to this PowerPoint template you will be able to evaluate your main goal before moving on to the planning and execution phase. This SMART Goals Template has six slides, is fully editable and available for PowerPoint and Google Slides.

Use This Template

2. Target SMART Goals PowerPoint Template

The Target SMART Goals PowerPoint Template is a creative timeline design for goal setting techniques. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. The arrow with five circular icons these five elements of goals. The curved arrow represents a timeline leading to a dartboard of achieving goals. It helps you highlight the key components and show how goals are achieved with SMART goal criteria in mind.

3. SMART Goals Slide Design for PowerPoint

The SMART Goals Slide Design for PowerPoint can evaluate different business goals. It can be applied to any management or marketing plan and edited to fit any corporate presentation. In SlideModel.com, we recommend it for project management, employee performance management, personal development, and various other business environments.

4. Goal Strategy & Tactics PowerPoint Template

The Goal Strategy & Tactics PowerPoint Template visualize steps that will help you describe multiple solutions. There are two slide designs of gradient PowerPoint backgrounds and shapes. Moreover, diagram presents chess game clipart icons like king, knight, and pawn for strategies. The arrow icons in tactic segments will help display optimal solutions.

5. Goals Based Strategic Planning PowerPoint Templates

The Goals-Based Strategic Planning PowerPoint Templates is a set of slides designed to present the result of a goals based strategic planning process. There are different approaches and models for strategic planning. These include goal-based strategic planning, issue-based strategic planning, organic, and scenarios. The Goal-based strategy focuses on organization’s values, mission, visions, and business objectives. It is most commonly used in financial planning to prioritize and optimize.

6. SMART Objectives Slide Design for PowerPoint

SMART Objectives Slide Design for PowerPoint is a presentation that will allow you to simply and clearly specify each of your SMART objectives. It is a very useful PowerPoint Template to specify your goals with your work team and use it as a Roadmap for short-term goals, medium and long-term goals.

7. SMART Goals One Pager PowerPoint Template

The SMART Goals One Pager PowerPoint Template is a data table where you can enter each of your SMART goals. This way you will be able to present in a simple and clear way with the One Pager format each of your goals and their breakdown in SMART acronyms.

8. SMART Objectives PowerPoint Template

9. SMART Goals PowerPoint Template

10. 5-Item Goal Target PowerPoint Template

11. Short & Long Term Goals PowerPoint Template

12. SMART Goals Planning Sheet PowerPoint Template

13. SMART Goals for Balanced Scorecard PowerPoint Template

14. SMART Objectives PowerPoint Template

15. Flat SMART Objectives PowerPoint Template

16. Setting Goals Template for PowerPoint with Target & Darts

SMART goals are effective tools that can increase the efficiency and profitability of a business. They give a clear direction to long-term goals, long-term progress and prioritize the most critical aspects for success. Teams with SMART goals can better focus on the broader picture and not lose themselves in day-to-day activities.

Better focus, motivation, and productivity, in turn, set the base for increasing the financial position of a company, along with the non-financial indicators, in a positive direction.

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Balanced Scorecard, Business PowerPoint Templates, Business Presentations, Corporate Presentations, Strategy Filed under Business

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How to Create a SMART Goals Template

A very useful tool..

To accomplish anything in life effectively and efficiently—without dragging your feet and wondering how on earth you got so off track—setting goals based on your capacity and capability is necessary.

At its most basic level, setting effective goals is about keeping certain targets in mind and considering what steps will need to be completed to achieve them. 

While there’s no doubt that goal setting motivates people to achieve what they want, setting SMART Goals gives you a much better shot at making them a reality—while addressing many common challenges. SMART Goals are set up to provide helpful structure and guidance every step of the way. By design, they identify what you want to accomplish and keep you on track and motivated .

Goal Setting: What Are SMART Goals?

Exactly what does “SMART” stand for? Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely. 

In 1981, the consultant and former director of corporate planning for the Washington Water Power Company, George T. Doran, published a paper titled “There’s a SMART Way to Write Management’s Goals and Objectives.” In it, he introduced SMART goal setting as a tool intended to generate helpful criteria, all geared at improving one’s chances of successfully accomplishing a goal. 

Goals that are vague (i.e., I will get better grades) tend to flop. By contrast, detailed, clearly defined goals have a far greater chance of success. You might relate to the five “Ws” when specifying your goals. When writing smart goals down, think about answering the following questions:

• What do I need to do? 
• Who will be involved in helping reach this goal?
• Where will I reach this goal?
• When will I reach this goal by?
• Why do I want to achieve this goal?

It may seem excessive to some, but to achieve success you need to have a means to measure progress. It’s key because it makes your goal more tangible. What metrics will you use to determine whether you’re on track to fulfill your goal? For instance, just like you would if you were trying to achieve certain business objectives, if you’re working on personal development and want to quit smoking, you might count days. If you’re attempting to lose weight, you might count pounds. Bottom line: the “M” section of the SMART acronym means you should be able to tell when you reach your goal. 

This tenet is focused on what you can do to make your goal attainable—even if it requires developing new skills and/or changing certain attitudes in your personal life. Ultimately, this is about how important the goal really is to you and how seriously you intend to take it. Your goal should motivate you rather than discourage you. In other words, it should require some effort but still be feasible. Be sure to take into account the time you can devote to it, the tools, skills or abilities you have (versus those you need), and your budget (if applicable).

It should go without saying that any goal you set should be realistic. For instance, if your goal is to run five miles a day when you’ve never run before, you may need to stop and consider the need for more gradual milestones. See to it that your goal is realistically achievable within your given timeframe and with the resources available to you.

Goals without a realistic timeline and reasonable deadlines in place tend not to succeed. Coming up with a target date for when you hope to have achieved your goal is crucial. Ask yourself what can realistically be accomplished within your given time period and adjust if needed. If it’s a longer term project, be sure to set a few milestones (or mini deadlines) which address the completion of specific tasks along the way. Creating a timeline also instills a sense of urgency, which motivates you to action.

SMART Goal examples

Perhaps the most straightforward way of introducing a few smart goal examples is to have a look at a goal that has not been conceived using the SMART goals worksheet. 

“I will finish this project,” is a great example. The project might be a work project, a novel you’re writing, or a remodel of your house. Whatever the project, the goal is too vague. With the current wording, the goals probably aren’t going to be attainable. The statement lacks specific details, timelines, motivations, and a reality check.

The following are examples of SMART goals. They cut across different facets of life. While some are daily and weekly habits, some are longer term processes. No matter what goal you choose to pursue, you’ll need to break it down into actionable steps that let you check in with yourself regularly along the way to see how you’re progressing.

Walk 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week

This goal is specific, measurable, and checks all the other SMART boxes—as long as the will is there. You might further break down a goal like this one into 15 minutes each morning and evening if it makes your goal more achievable. 

Learn one new thing every week

This goal may appear to lack specificity, but with the proper plotting out of what types of new things you want to learn—and which ones you can realistically learn in the space of a week, this is potentially very doable. You might read a book, listen to a podcast, or learn a new word.

Clear all outstanding debt in 1 year

Naturally, this goal will be more or less realistic depending on the amount of debt you have. If your goal is to be debt-free in a year (or maybe even 6 months), you can achieve this by setting milestones and by considering ways of becoming debt-free quickly . With real commitment, you can get it done. 

Overcome social media addiction

There are countless reasons to curb one's addiction to social media: increased productivity, more free time, a better posture. Let us count the ways. Beating your social media addiction can be achieved in a matter of days, weeks, or months depending on how much it means to you and whether you can define clear metrics for success.

Improve public speaking skills

If you’re dead set on improving a skill, you need to dedicate specific time slots to it on a regular basis and, in the case of public speaking, you’ll probably want to include thorough preparation, regular rehearsals, and a few practice-runs (or better yet, actual events/presentations) within your timeline as a way of measuring your progress. 

Track your progress with a SMART Goals template 

It takes more than a positive attitude and realistic timing to get what you want. To ensure that your goals are indeed SMART and vastly increase your chances of success, consider using these free printable SMART goals worksheets. If you want to work on more than one goal at the same time, simply make several copies. 

Smart Goals template examples for adults

Title: SMART GOALS PLANNING SHEET

Horizontal boxes: 

SPECIFIC - Who, what, where, why?

MEASURABLE - How many/much?

ACHIEVABLE - Do I have the time and resources for this?

REALISTIC - What is the expected result?

TIMELY - When? What are my deadline(s)?

Title: SMART GOALS ACTION PLANNING

ACTION STEP - What needs to be done?

DEADLINE - When does this step need to be done?

RESOURCES - What resources are needed for this step?

CHALLENGES - What are possible challenges and how will I address them?

SUPPORT - Who in my life can provide support if needed, and how?

RESULT- Did I complete this step? Why or why not? Were new steps identified?

Smart Goals template examples for kids

SMART Goals aren’t just for adults! Introducing kids to the idea of goal setting can help them develop this crucial life skill early on, and can be especially valuable as they learn to tackle bigger responsibilities.

Title: SMART GOALS FOR SMART KIDS

Boxes/circles/bubbles: 

MY SMART GOAL (WHAT, WHO):

WHY THIS GOAL IS IMPORTANT TO ME:

WHY I KNOW I CAN DO IT:

HOW I PLAN TO ACHIEVE MY GOAL:

HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE:

HOW I WILL KNOW I HAVE ACHIEVED MY GOAL:

How to create your own SMART Goal template

This article includes several editable SMART Goals templates (above) that you can print out and use to work through the details of any goal you choose to pursue. Using the provided templates as a rough guide, you can also create your own custom SMART Goal template using the layout and the language you desire by following these broad-stroke steps:

Summarize your goal

Because goals are often quite unclear, the more you break it down, the better. You might start by free-writing what your goal consists of and what you hope to achieve. Afterwards, when creating your template, structure the same information in the form of answers to pertinent questions which address the What, Who, Why, etc., of your goal. You may just learn something new about yourself in the process!

Set a numeric value for your goal

Allotting one section of your template to measure your progress is key. Identifying a measurable metric for your SMART goal is a lot easier if your goal has a clear numerical value attached to it—like dollars, or days. This may be the most difficult step of all as it’s so very clear cut, but arguably it’s the most effective motivation of all.

Set a timeline

Since we’ve already established that time is both king and queen in the realm of goals, allot a section of your template to tracking your deadline and any time-oriented milestones that mark your progress along the way.

Identify challenges

Because we must always be prepared for challenges—be they foreseen or unforeseen—be sure to allot a section of your template to exploring possible obstacles along the way and how you plan to deal with them. 

Benefits of setting SMART Goals

Setting SMART Goals can legitimately change your life for the better. Still not convinced? Consider the following very tangible benefits of consciously subjecting your goals to the rigorous yet highly effective SMART framework for success.

They force you to think about what you want from life

Setting SMART goals forces you to sit down and give real thought to what you want to achieve and whether you’re willing to do what it takes to get there. While this may feel indulgent, this process of reflection is essential to manifesting the life you want. 

Setting goals you don’t really care about or that you don’t feel personally invested in—simply because you think you should—is a waste of time. But when you make yourself write it all down and think through it, it’s hard not to make adjustments so that your goals are better aligned with what’s important to you.

They improve your chances of success

Before you create a plan of action, you need to know where you want to be. The main reason most people don’t reach their goals is because they haven’t actually parsed out what they really want or where they want to end up. SMART Goals force this crucial reckoning early on, so you’re set up for success.

They make you a more effective human being

You can set all the goals you want, but if your goal setting process is muddy and ineffective, your success rate won’t be high. Just by virtue of setting SMART goals, you are creating a detail-oriented action plan, which is bound to help you become a lot more efficient and effective. 

They save precious time

Yes, it may take some time to define and outline your goals, but in the long run, you’ll be saving a ton of time, so it’s very worth it! Once your goals are clearly defined, you can more easily eliminate activities that don’t promote (or even work against) your goals while focusing on those that get you closer to achieving them. Ultimately, you’ll find you have more time to spend on the things that actually serve to advance your goals!

As you move toward achieving your goals, you’re almost sure to encounter obstacles. It can help to write smart goals down and identify any support you believe you may need to get past them. This is a good way of preventing obstacles from blocking your progress, as well as circumventing obstacles more effectively with future goals. 

Once you hit your deadline, mark down whether you achieved your goal or not. Reflect on the specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely process and the results alike. If applicable, make a note of where you went off track and treat it as a valuable learning experience. And always be sure to celebrate your victories, no matter how ‘small!’  Need some extra inspiration or motivation ? Check out our list of 100 motivational quotes to take yourself to the next level. You got this!

Feeling hungry for knowledge today? Check out our article on Mark Twain quotes .

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Shaquille O'Neal Sends New Shoes To Teen With Size 23 Size

A teen in Missouri was having trouble finding shoes that fit him. He appealed to local news outlets and tried to find a solution online. But because of his large size, it was hard to find a reasonable and affordable option. Then Shaq stepped in to save the day.

Appealing to the Community

Shaq helps teen who can't find shoes in his size

YouTube/KCTV

Jor’el Bolden had been looking for shoes for months. The teen is a size 23, which isn’t available in stores. Instead, he needed to find someone to make him custom shoes, which can cost more than a thousand dollars.

That kind of money for a pair of shoes wasn’t realistic for Bolden and his mother, Tamika Neal, so they created a GoFundMe account to raise money for some. In the meantime, Bolden squeezed his feet into the largest pair of shoes he could find, a size 22, which is the largest available commercial size. It was painful and hard.

When local news outlets found out about the campaign and the son and mother shared their story, the support they received was flooring. They soon collected more than their initial $9,500 goal.

“I’m overwhelmed and excited because [his foot size] is something I don’t have control over, but as a parent, not being able to provide something that your kid needs... it does something to you," Neal told KCTV . "Having people reach out and pull through for us was amazing.”

A Superstar Steps In

Someone else who had to deal with being larger than his peers growing up was Shaquille O’Neal. He heard about Bolden’s story and related to the kid, so he reached out himself.

“ Entertainment Tonight , they messaged me, and she was like, ‘Someone special wants to talk to you,’” Neal recalled to the outlet. The next thing she knew, she was giving her number to producers, who forwarded it to O’Neal for a Facetime call.

“[Jor’el] didn’t have a shirt on,” Neal recalled of the surprise. “I said, ‘I’m sorry he doesn’t have a shirt on’ and [Shaq] said ‘What’s up big sexy?’”

O’Neal chatted with the teen for a bit, and they said goodbye. Less than a week later, three big boxes showed up.

A Wonderful Surprise

Inside the boxes were new clothes, at least 20 pairs of shoes, and some personal items from O’Neal’s closet, including a Papa John’s tee that Shaq once wore for a commercial.

“It’s better than Christmas morning, Santa didn’t send this, Shaq did,” Neal said.

Now, Bolden is able to put the money raised from the GoFundMe toward his future, when he will eventually require new shoes.

“Thank you for taking the time and the money that you have earned to give to me when I needed it,” Bolden added. "Thank you for all of the things that will come from it and that already have.”

Ask And You Shall Receive

It can be hard to have a notable difference from your peers, especially when it’s a physical thing like shoe size that requires you to buy custom items to live. But it's also important to remember that those differences are what make us special, and as this story proves, it’s okay to ask for help.

Had this teen and his mom not reached out to their online communities for support, O’Neal would have never heard their story. The fact that he did and contributed is a testament to all of the other non-celebrity folks out there who helped spread the word to make this teen’s life a little easier.

At the end of the day we all need help sometimes, so don’t let pride get in the way. And if you are in a position to help someone else, know that your contribution will go a long way in that person’s life. Community is what we make it, and as this story proves community can be a pretty wonderful thing.

Man Faces Hefty Fine For Running a Red Light - Then the Judge Learns Why He Did It

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Mom Defends 'No Contact' with Son Internet Calls Gaslighting

In the age of social media, where opinions fly faster than ever, one video sparked a wildfire of controversy, shedding light on a topic often brushed under the rug: parent-child relationships.

Brianna Knight is the millennial "doula in training" who took to her platform to express her bewilderment at parents who seem unfazed by their adult children's decision to cut ties — a phenomenon known as "no contact."

Little did she know, her words would ignite a heated response from a mother named Julie, whose reaction left many questioning the dynamics of familial bonds.

Angry Mother Responds To Viral Video Encouraging Better Parenting

This 3-part video saga begins with a simple video posted by a millennial woman, whose candid commentary on parent-child relationships struck a nerve in the online community. In her impassioned monologue, she questions the perplexing phenomenon of parents seemingly unfazed by their adult children's decision to cut ties — a practice commonly referred to as "no contact."

"I just don't get it," she muses to her followers. "How can a parent act like it's no big deal when their own child decides to go no contact? It's like they're completely unbothered by it."

But she didn't know her words would provoke a response that would reverberate across social media platforms. Enter Julie, a middle-aged mother with fiery red hair and a demeanor to match. In her luxurious kitchen, adorned with the trappings of affluence, she confronts the millennial woman's critique with a venomous retort.

She Said Putting Her Son First Made Her Want To "Kill Herself"

"Oh sweetie, I probably shouldn't address this because I'm too emotional about it," Julie begins, her tone dripping with disdain. "But I will say this: Since my son has cut me off and gone no contact, I can do two things. I can remove myself from this planet or I can just totally shut my emotions and all my feelings down." - Julie (@goosegrese56 /TikTok)

The stark contrast between the millennial's earnest inquiry and Julie's defensive outburst sets the stage for a showdown of generational perspectives on parent-child relationships. As the video exchange unfolds, viewers are left grappling with uncomfortable truths about emotional responsibility and the enduring impact of familial dynamics.

Amidst the uproar caused by Julie's callous remarks, a voice of reason emerged. Brianna (@briknightt), a postpartum advocate and "doula in training", took to TikTok to dismantle Julie's harmful narrative.

With grace and clarity, she addressed the complexities of parent-child estrangement, drawing from her own experience with a narcissistic and abusive father. Brianna's video served as the perfect validation for those navigating similar struggles, reminding them that they are not alone in their journey to reclaim their emotional well-being.

Watch Brianna Knight's Video:

@briknighttt @Julie It’s giving “I guess I’m just the worst mother ever” instead of actually listening to your child 😵💫 #respectfulparenting   #gentleparenting   #cyclebreaker   #cyclebreaking   #millennialmom   #equalparenting   #childhoodtrauma   #childhoodabuse   #domesticabuseawareness   #domesticviolenceawareness   #dvsurvivor   #traumatok   #healingjourney   #momswhoheal   #millennialmom   #greenscreenvideo   ♬ original sound - briknighttt

Brianna's Message Reminds Those Struggling They Aren't "Crazy"

In her video response, Brianna delves into the complexities of parent-child relationships with wisdom and compassion. She highlights the emotional toll of estrangement and offers invaluable insights for those grappling with similar struggles.

"It takes a lot for a child to want to go no contact with the person that raised them. It takes a lot of trying. It takes a lot of years. It takes a lot of pain." - Brianna Knight

Her words resonate deeply with viewers, providing solace and validation for those navigating the tumultuous terrain of familial estrangement. Brianna's message serves as a beacon of hope, reminding individuals that they are worthy of love and understanding, even in the face of familial discord.

A Lesson For Parents Unwilling To Embrace Healing and Growth

As the dust settles on this digital battleground, it's imperative to reflect on the lessons learned. Julie's outburst may have sparked outrage, but it also sparked a much-needed conversation about the complexities of parent-child dynamics in the modern age.

In a world where emotional vulnerability is often perceived as weakness, Brianna's courage to speak her truth shines brightly. Her resilience and empathy serve as a testament to the power of authenticity and compassion in fostering meaningful connections.

As we navigate the intricate web of familial relationships, let us heed Brianna's wisdom and embrace the journey of healing and growth. For it is through introspection and empathy that we pave the path towards reconciliation and understanding — bridging the divide between generations and forging bonds rooted in love and acceptance.

Since going viral for all the wrong reasons, Julie has deleted her TikTok account (@goosegrease56).

Copyright © 2024 Goalcast

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How to Set SMART Goals

Every great achievement comes from setting goals. Each leader, entrepreneur, and go-getter achieved their dreams by creating an attainable goal-setting process to help them follow through and succeed.

Whether you have personal development goals, project management goals, or broader business goals to accomplish, everyone can benefit from creating SMART goals .

Find out what the SMART acronym stands for and why SMART goals are important. I will also share some helpful SMART goal setting examples, how to set attainable SMART goals , and tips to help you achieve your professional and personal goals using the SMART framework.

What Are SMART Goals?

SMART goals have been around for over 30 years. In 1981, consultant and former director of corporate planning for Washington Water Power Company, George T. Doran, published a paper titled, “There’s a SMART Way to Write Management’s Goals and Objectives.

 He introduced the SMART goals criteria as a way to improve your chances of accomplishing your goals. Since then, we can see the SMART term occurs in a copious amount of research studies, self-help books, articles, blog posts, and more.

What does it take for a goal to be considered a SMART goal? In this context, SMART is an acronym that stands for:

Think of your SMART goals as a personal mission statement. The SMART framework acts as a tool to help you ensure that the goals you want to achieve are attainable and geared to you and your means of success.

SMART goals are versatile and can be applied to both personal and professional areas of life. For example, SMART goals are absolutely essential for managers when figuring out how to motivate their employees .

Creating a SMART goals action plan in the workplace can stimulate productivity and overall achievement.

A personal goal example may be committing to taking a walk every day before work. This walk could then develop into a routine, which will later lead to a habit. Habits like these can then help you work towards a bigger goal of building a healthier and more productive lifestyle overall.

The Importance of SMART Goal Setting

Creating a routine is important for your productivity, but your goals are what navigate your productivity to your success.

Goal setting allows you to create the willpower to move the needle in your life and prevent feeling stagnate and stuck.

Setting both long and short-term attainable goals helps you build focus, measure progress, and hold yourself accountable.

By setting goals, you can stop making excuses and procrastinating and start heading towards success.

But, not all goals are the same. Goals have to be thought out and specific to you and your situation. If you set goals that are vague, it’s much more difficult to determine how successful you are in achieving them.

If you don’t put thought and effort into your goal setting , you may never achieve the success you want. That’s why it’s important to aim before you shoot.

How to Set Achievable SMART Goals

Now that you have a general understanding of what a SMART goal is, let’s break the SMART acronym down to help you understand each element.

Using the SMART goal framework is very simple. To create an attainable SMART goal, focus on each word of the acronym itself.

The goals you create should embody all of these elements. Once they do, you will see the true potential of this term and how you can utilize it to achieve success in your life.

Let’s start at the beginning.

S – Specific

Good goals are not ambiguous or vague. Rather, they are clear and concise. You should know what you want to focus on, even if you aren’t quite sure how to get there yet.

For example, rather than saying, “I want to get into shape,” you could say, “I want to lose fifteen pounds by March 20th by using my gym membership three days per week.”

The first statement gives you a very broad definition of what it means to be “in shape.” But your version of “in shape” may be entirely different than someone else’s — it leaves too much room for interpretation and less room for action.

You can see how the latter example is a more specific goal allowing for much more effective planning.

At first, being specific with your goals may add some extra pressure. However, the specificity of your goal will allow you to hone in on what you are looking to achieve and attack it directly rather than dance around it. Your focus will be narrow, efficient, and precise.

M – Measurable

Tracking the progress of your goal is an important part of keeping yourself motivated and holding yourself accountable.

Setting measurable goals allows you to track progress by identifying milestones you can celebrate when you achieve them and reevaluate if you don’t.

Some goals are measurable by numerical or financial terms. Some can be broken down into steps, each of which infers that the previous step has been completed and progress has been made toward your measurable goal.

Some goals are more difficult to quantify, though, in which case you can evaluate your endurance and efficiency when completing that task by writing down how you felt doing it on a daily basis. This also allows you to measure changes in mindset during your journey.

A SMART goal example for this could be simply “being more positive.” While that’s hard to assign key performance indicators to, you can measure progress by noting how much easier it gets to be positive on a daily basis when you are actively working on it.

Make sure you measure your goals regularly in order to help you stay on track or adjust as needed. The progress you make will motivate you to continue moving forward.

A – Achievable

While your goals should challenge you, they shouldn’t be impossible for you to accomplish.

Far too many people fall into the trap of setting unrealistic goals for themselves. While big, exaggerated goals may be motivating for a while, they will usually leave you feeling depleted and distraught in the long run.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t reach for the stars, it just means you should be reasonable about your output. Once you’ve reached your goal, you can then aim for something higher.

Make your goals achievable. Before you set your goal, make sure that you can actually envision yourself achieving it and can create a SMART goal action plan for doing so.

This plan should consider if you can achieve the goal within the constraints of time, money, skill level, external environment, and the other constraints contained both inside and outside of yourself. When you make your goal attainable, you are more likely to stay motivated and succeed.

Even if your long-term goal is grand, start with a more achievable goal and work your way up.

R – Relevant

Not all goals are created equally. Some may be much more worthwhile to you than they are to your coworkers or friends. Unless your goal is relevant to the overall plan for your life, achieving it may not contribute to your ultimate success.

Your goals should be within the bounds of reality. Some goals are inspirational and do not necessarily reflect your current reality. Always create goals that are actionable and attainable; ones that do not require the wave of a magic wand.

In order to ensure that your goal is beneficial and relevant to you, make sure that it aligns with your values and larger, long-term goals. If a goal doesn’t contribute toward your broader objectives, rethink it.

Always ask yourself why the goal is important to you, how achieving it will help you, and how it will contribute toward your long-term goals.  When you have a good answer for each of these questions, you know you’re setting the right kind of relevant goals that you can achieve.

T – Time-Bound

Effective SMART goals should follow a time frame. A goal deadline promotes motivation and prioritization while giving you confidence through the tracking of your progress.

Here’s a SMART goal example that is time-bound:

You want to start reading more books, but rather than saying, “I want to start reading more books,” you could say, “I want to read twelve books in the next six months.”

You will notice that the first statement is all-around vague — “more” could mean as few as one book or as many as 100 books. It also does not set a target date, making it more difficult to track consistently.

The second goal is much more specific as far as quantity and time frame go, allowing you to keep track of your progress and see how far away you are from reaching your goal within the deadline.

When you specify schedules for the attainment of each part of the goal and the completion of each part of the task, you will find it much easier for you to stay on track.

Having Trouble Accomplishing Your Goals? Find Success Fast With My SMART Goals Cheat Sheet!

SMART Goals Examples

When planning out the SMART goals you want to achieve, write down each of the five criteria within the SMART goal setting structure, and write a sentence or two about how your goal fits into each.

If you can create a goal that aligns with each element, your goal will prove to be more elevated and beneficial than a general goal.

In case you’re still unsure what exactly qualifies a goal as being “SMART,” let’s take a look at a few specific SMART goals examples to inspire you as you are developing your own goals.

SMART Goals Example for Saving Money

Let’s say that your goal is to start saving more money.

Now, in and of itself, this isn’t a SMART goal, but it can easily be modified so that it is one. For example, you could say:

“I will save $10,000 a year for the next 10 years in order to prepare for a comfortable retirement.”

Now this goal is considered a SMART goal. Using a SMART goals template will also help you see how each criterion is being accounted for:

S (Specific) = You have designated a specific amount of money you hope to save ($100,000).

M (Measurable) = You are able to track how much money you’re putting away towards your goal ($10,000 per year for 10 years).

A (Achievable) = After accessing your financial situation, you have deemed an appropriate and realistic amount.

R (Relevant) = Saving money will allow you to achieve your goal of having a comfortable retirement fund.

T (Time-bound) = You have set a time frame for when you should have $100,000 in savings (in 10 years).

SMART Goals Example for Leadership

Let’s say that your goal is to hold a team leadership role within your organization. Here’s what that goal looks like as a SMART goal:

“I will earn a team managerial promotion in my department during my yearly evaluation in six months by working harder and taking on more responsibility for my team without being asked.”

Now let’s look at each element of the SMART goal to help you better understand and achieve it:

S (Specific) = You are working towards the exact team position you want to be promoted to within your department.

M (Measurable) = Your success can be measured by the promotion.

A (Achievable) = Your current role is the stepping stone to the team managerial role if you go above and beyond your current job description.

R (Relevant) = The managerial role aligns with your desired career trajectory.

T (Time-bound) = Your goal is time sensitive as you are working towards being promoted to a team manager during your yearly management review in six months.

SMART Goals Example for Writing a Book

Now let’s say you have a personal goal of writing a book. Instead of leaving this goal vague, we will turn it into a personal SMART goal. Your personal SMART goal is:

“I will finish writing the manuscript of my book by the fall of next year by writing five pages a day starting today.”

S (Specific) = You have specified the deliverable (the manuscript).

M (Measurable) = You have a set amount of pages that you have to write per day in order to finish by next fall (five).

A (Achievable) = You enjoy writing and are very motivated to finish your book, so writing five pages a day is doable.

R (Relevant) = Finishing the manuscript will get you much closer to eventually publishing the book to a bigger audience.

T (Time-bound) = You are working towards the manuscript being completed by the fall of next year.

SMART Goals Templates and Smart Goal Worksheets

Along with writing down the criteria for your SMART goals and checking that the goal you set matches each criterion, you may find it beneficial to use additional resources, such as goal-setting templates and worksheets.

These resources will help you write SMART goals action plans, help you organize your thoughts in a clear way, and can be referenced throughout your journey.

How you decide to use a goal-setting template depends on the template itself. A SMART goals template includes helpful tips on how you can create the right kind of goals, how you can keep track of your progress, ways to stay motivated, and more.

Writing SMART goals is much quicker when you use a template. I find the most benefit from the templates when I print them and manually fill them out. I can then use the SMART goal worksheets as physical and mental references as I work towards my goals.

To do this, simply fill out each section of the template you choose as it applies to your specific goal at the time.

If enjoy using templates, planners, and other written tools to help you stay organized, goal-setting templates may be an essential tool in your SMART goal creation.

The good news: You can  download my SMART Goals Template now for free. A SMART goal template makes it easy to create goals specifically designed for you and your vision of success.

Tips for Achieving SMART Goals

Thoughtfully setting up your SMART goals means you’re well on your way to success. Now I’d like to give you a few tips to help you  accomplish your SMART goals and make sure you have achieved your dreams.

Write Down Your Goals

People who write down their goals are three times more likely to achieve them than those who do not. Designate a journal, template, software program, or another resource where you will write your goals down like a personal mission statement and refer to them often.

Check Your Goals Regularly

For best results, you should consult your goals every day. This helps you do a reality check often to make sure your goals are attainable. It will keep you focused and help you tailor your daily to-do list to reach your goals. And it will also help you keep your end date front of mind.

Revise Your Goals as Needed

At times, you may find you’ve created unattainable goals, need a more realistic deadline, or something unexpected happens that requires your to course correct to you meet your goal within the time frame. Remember that your goals are important as written, but they are also fluid and you can make changes when necessary. The most essential thing is you continue progressing forward.

Add Positive Affirmations to Your Daily Routine

Practicing daily positive affirmations is a proven way to maintain the motivation you need to achieve your goals. Affirmations is one of my favorite positive thinking resources and will help ensure you don’t fall short in meeting your goals.

Celebrate Your Wins

A huge benefit of SMART goals is that they are measurable. This way, you can break each goal into smaller goals and check off your progress. The motivation you’ll experience along the way will lead to an acceleration of your progress and help you accomplish your goals.

Overcoming Obstacles

You may have reasons as to why you are not achieving your objectives, but sometimes we use excuses that can be overcome.

Consider the excuses you may tell yourself. Common excuses are not having enough time, knowledge, or experience. Other excuses have to do with needing to overcome bad habits or stepping out of our comfort zone.

Many excuses can be turned into opportunities when you take accountability for your decisions and develop a plan for yourself.

While success is not achieved overnight, it’s important to remain realistic and remember all the little steps you must take in order to reach the finish line.

It’s a marathon, not a sprint. You may get tired and want to stop, but just remember, starting was the most difficult part and you’ve already made it past that — so keep going.

If you are struggling with moving forward, start with one small step. This can be done by setting some daily realistic goals before bed. Then, wake up and start creating a routine with these daily goals in mind.

It all starts with that first step and proper time management to stay on target.

Get on the Road to Success by Setting SMART Goals Now

By following these SMART goal tips when setting personal and professional goals, you will see that making realistic SMART goals important to your process will inspire you, challenge you, and push you towards the best version of yourself — the version you are destined to become once you commit to achieving your goals.

Set yourself up for success by downloading my free  SMART Goals Template now. When you use this and other helpful resources, you’ll be on your way to writing your SMART goals and turning your dreams into reality.

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About Brian Tracy — Brian is recognized as the top sales training and personal success authority in the world today. He has authored more than 60 books and has produced more than 500 audio and video learning programs on sales, management, business success and personal development, including worldwide bestseller The Psychology of Achievement. Brian's goal is to help you achieve your personal and business goals faster and easier than you ever imagined. You can follow him on Twitter , Facebook , Pinterest , Linkedin and Youtube .

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38 Examples of SMART Goals for Students

The SMART Goals framework, also written as S.M.A.R.T Goals or SMART Objectives, is a template for setting specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based goals.

While originally used in leadership and corporate management, the framework is now extensively used in education to help students to set personal and academic goals for themselves.

The following examples of SMART goals for students show how students can set achievable goals by following the five elements of the framework.

SMART Goals Example

For the SMART framework, a student should set one goal that meets five clear criteria. The goal should be:

• Specific – Be clear about exactly what the goal is and what will be done to achieve it. Consider giving details about what, when, where, why, and how.
• Measurable – Make sure you have a way to assess whether you have achieved your goal.
• Attainable – State how you believe reaching the goal is within your power.
• Relevant – State how the goal will help you to meet your overall goals as a student.
• Time-Based – You need to set a time by which you will complete your goal to keep yourself accountable.

SMART Goals Template for Students

The student should write down their goal in a quote above the table then enter an explanation of how their goal is specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based.

Get the Google Docs Template Here

Goal: Write your goal above the table. Carefully think about your goal and fill out the sentence with details that will ensure that it is S.M.A.R.T.

SMART Goals for Students

1. get an a in my next essay.

“I will get an A in my current essay in my Psychology class.”

2. Improve my Research Skills

“I will improve my research skills by using library resources and taking notes from the recommended readings for my course. I will do this every Friday afternoon for 3 weeks. I will aim for a subjective statement on my end-of-semester feedback about my research skills.”

3. Type at 60 Words per Minute

“I will learn to type at 60 words per minute within two months.”

4. Study 5 Days a Week for 5 Weeks

“I will study for my math class for one hour each afternoon Monday to Friday for 5 weeks.”

5. Improve my Productivity

“I will improve my productivity by using a Pomodoro timer when studying and closing all other tabs on my computer. I will do this every time I study for 2 months.”

6. Improve my Focus

“I will improve my focus during class this term by leaving my phone in my bag, sitting alone instead of with friends, and ensuring I turn up well-hydrated and rested.”

7. Memorize 100 flashcards within 3 weeks

“I will create a deck of 100 flashcards related to my Spanish course and memorize all 100 flashcards within 3 weeks by spending 20 minutes per day on the task.”

8. Complete my Assigned Book for Class

“I will finish reading the book that has been assigned by my teacher within 5 weeks.”

9. Obtain the Confidence to Give a Public Speech

“I will obtain the confidence to give a public speech by practicing speaking from note cards in front of a mirror and friends for the next 3 weeks.”

10. Re-Submit my Essay for a Higher Grade

“I will use the feedback provided on my essay to re-submit for a higher grade within the 2-week timeframe I have been given by my teacher.”

11. Follow a Study Calendar for the Next 5 Weeks

“I will use a study calendar that states when and what I should study. I will do this for 5 days a week for 5 weeks.”

12. Borrow One Book per Month from the Library

“I will borrow one book per month from the library for six months and read it fully in order to deepen my knowledge of sociology for my sociology class.”

13. Complete my Assignments 2 Weeks Before Due Date

“I will complete all assignments 2 weeks before the due dates so I have 2 weeks of free time to edit the work without stress.”

14. Maintain a Study Journal for 15 Weeks

“I will keep a daily study journal Monday to Friday for 15 weeks that will record what I studied, notes on key things I need to revise, and how long I studied. This will help me reflect on my improvement over time.”

15. Minimize Study Stress

“I will minimize the amount of stress I’m experiencing by exercising an hour a day, only studying for a maximum of one hour per day, and meditating for 15 minutes after each study session. I will do this for 5 weeks.”

SMART Goals Examples for High School Students

16. apply for five colleges.

“I will apply for five colleges within 3 months.”

17. Go to Four University Open Days

“I will go to four university open days within the next 2 months to learn more about the universities and see which one I would prefer.”

18. Study for an Hour Before Class Daily

“I will study for one hour between 8 am and 9 am daily before class Monday to Friday. I will study for the class that I will be sitting that day and keep a journal of progress.”

19. Maintain a Regular Sleep Routine

“I will sleep for 9 hours a day by making sure I get into bed by 10 pm every night and set an alarm for 7 am each morning. This will keep me fresh for classes.”

20. Research Five Potential Career Options

“I will spend 3 hours every Thursday night researching a potential career option for 5 weeks straight. At the end of the 5th week, I will rank all the career options based on my research.”

21. Have Three Meetings with my Careers Advisor 

“I will book in three meetings with my careers advisor over the next six months to check in and re-evaluate my thoughts about what I want to do after I finish high school.”

SMART Goals Examples for University Students

22. decide upon a major for my degree.

“I will lock in a major with my advisor by the end of the month and select the appropriate courses for next semester.”

23. Meet Each Instructor in Open Office Hours Once per Semester

“I will meet each of my instructors during their open office hours on Week 8 of the semester to go over my essay drafts.”

24. Meet with my Advisor for Feedback on my Progress 3 Times per Year

“I will meet with my advisor to check in on my progress in my degree 3 times this year. I will meet her in March, July, and September.”

25. Attend One Library Skills Seminar per Month

“I will attend one library skills seminar per month until I have attended all the training sessions they have on offer. This should take 6 months and help me incrementally develop my academic skills.”

26. Meet with my Study Group Weekly All Semester

“I will meet with my study group at 2.30 pm every Tuesday in the library for one hour to compare notes about our studies. We will also meet to check each other’s drafts during this period when necessary.”

27. Complete All Homework Tasks by Wednesday each Week

“I will complete my homework tasks by Wednesday each week this semester. To do this, I will remain at the university library on Tuesdays from 12 noon onwards.”

28. Turn up to Class on Time

“I will turn up to class five minutes before class begins for the entire semester in order to change my habit of being late. To make this happen, I will take the 8.05 am bus each morning.”

29. Apply for Five Summer Internships

“I will apply for five summer internships by the end of next week.”

See more SMART internship goals here.

30. Apply for Five Part-Time Jobs in my Career Field

“I will apply for five part-time jobs in my career field by the end of next week.”

31. Write 400 Words per Day for my Essay

“I will write 400 words per day for 5 days to get my first draft of my essay complete.”

SMART Goals Examples for Online Students

32. post five forum responses per week.

“I will log into my online course between 4 pm and 5 pm each weekday to read a forum task and post a 100-word response on the discussion board. I will continue this for the rest of the semester.”

33. Re-watch my Online Lectures and Take Notes for my Essay

“I will re-watch the eight one-hour online lectures for my course. I will watch one per day between 9 am and 10 am and take notes daily on anything relevant to the essay I’m writing.”

34. Reply to Three other People’s Forum Comments per Week

“I will reply to three forum comments on my online discussion board per week for the next three weeks in order to engage with other students in my class.”

SMART Goals Examples for International and Exchange Students

35. speak only in spanish for a whole day.

“I will speak only in Spanish for the whole day during my exchange at Barcelona University.”

See a Full List of Communication Goals Here

36. Apply for an Exchange Scholarship by May 1st

“I will apply for an exchange scholarship to get funding to go to Barcelona for a semester. This application will be a 1000 word essay and completed by May 1st.”

37. Join a Cultural Club at my new Unviersity

“I will join one cultural club at my university by the end of the social club sign-up day tomorrow.”

38. Apply for a Work Visa for after I Graduate so I can Stay Here

“My goal is to apply for a work visa by 5 pm on the 30th of December so I can stay in the country after I have completed my degree.”

The SMART framework is valuable when setting educational goals because it helps you to articulate exactly what your goal is. The five criteria within the framework will force students to set goals that can be clearly explained and are achievable. By setting SMART goals, students can see greater levels of success whether it’s short-term goals or long-term goals and have a clearer idea about what they need to do to meet their goals.

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 15 Animism Examples
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 10 Magical Thinking Examples
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ Social-Emotional Learning (Definition, Examples, Pros & Cons)
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ What is Educational Psychology?

5 thoughts on “38 Examples of SMART Goals for Students”

I have tried it before but soon forgot about it, which means I have made my calendar or schedule with a goal on top and worked toward it, and then I forgot to do it again for my next semester’s class. but it does not hurt trying again one more time.

This method is useful and essential. That why I have been using it since high school.

This method is very significant in my study I have been using it.

This method is essential and productive, i still use it even today to achieve my goals.

One of the best online learning articles I have come across. Rarely give comments at over 69yrs and a lot working in education. But you are clear, and straight to the point. Good job! Recommended.

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Building a SMART Goals Template

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As mentioned in our History of SMART Goals , we outlined Doran’s theories on goal setting. Before we get to talking about creating a SMART goals template , it’s worth revisiting what Doran espoused. His formulation seems simple now, but it was novel at the time.  Goals should be five things:

When reflecting on those criteria, it never hurts to have a SMART goals template to use with your team to identify the proper areas of the goal.  We’ve developed a spreadsheet you can fill out with all the critical components of your SMART goals. If you are an AchieveIt user, you can have us load it into AchieveIt for you (more on that at the end of this post). Otherwise, click here to download your own template to get started translating SMART goals into results that can be executed.

Let’s walk through an example together for an example Business Operations plan:

Make sure to split out your various assignments into reasonable deliverables with categories that help you identify the areas you will focus on throughout the plan. Avoid vague wording such as “Conduct meeting” or “Send documents.” Those assignments would be tough to immediately take action in a meaningful way.

As the “S” in SMART implies, make sure your goals are not vague.

Measurable:

Here’s the most wonderful part of the entire SMART goals template exercise; RESULTS!  You and your team can outline what good looks like and where should that finish line be placed. For most of our clients, defining the brass ring and the end target can have amazing effects on the team. It gives you all a rally cry, a target, and especially a moment that you can identify to celebrate as an organization.  Whether it be a revenue target, a percentage target, or a numeric target, having these results visible to your team can add tremendous momentum to your organization.

Make your goals measurable so that you can track your progress.

Achievable:

Clarity and coordination around your plan is never more important than when you identify the right resources that can help you achieve your goals.  It’s most important to identify a key accountable person who is responsible for the assignments. So it’s essential to track carefully in your SMART goals template.

Achievable, assignable, and accountable. Make sure your goals are all three.

When developing your assignments, it helps to provide context on why the assignment has been created, what the intentions for the deliverables could be, and why they are relevant to the individual, the team and/or the organization. Adding descriptions to your assignments can give the team members more information to better fulfill their goals.

It is essential goals are relevant to the person/s accountable for achieving them.

Time-Bound:

With your relevant goals and assignment in mind, it’s also important to outline appropriate timelines for execution. A common mistake is to put every start date and due date at the beginning and end of a quarter or year. Instead, try to be more thoughtful on the time period that will transpire during execution. Sometimes a month is more appropriate versus a whole quarter. Choosing appropriate timelines will greatly assist team members in assigning priorities.

A timeline with specific due dates is essential to apply to all activities.

Tracking progress towards achieving SMART goals:

Great!  You have now developed all the critical components for your SMART goals through a simple SMART goals template. The next steps is to consider a methodology for tracking progress.  You could continue to track the goals in the completed template, marking items Achieved or Not Achieved throughout the timelines. However, there are other technology solutions that could support your SMART goals.  For example, taking the same Business Operations plan, let’s see how it translate into a cloud-based Results Management System, such as AchieveIt.

Rather than a static spreadsheet, which requires constant versioning, with AchieveIt, you can interact with the execution of your plans through dashboards and update to progress notes. Cloud-based Results Management solutions can help you and your team keep your SMART goals in the forefront of your mind.

If you would like to see your SMART goals loaded into our software, then send it over to us at [email protected] and we will show you the plan!

How have you typically tracked and formed your SMART goals?

Once again, click here to download your Excel SMART Goals template .

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SMART Goals template for 2022

Set goals that are better defined and organize their associated action items with our smart goals template..

Integrate with your favorite tools

Tips for achieving your goals with our template

Look forward, smart goals template key features.

• File storage No more sifting through emails and chats for key documents and files related to your goals — anyone can add them directly to the files column for easy knowledge management.
• Item Updates Board members can add important announcements and feedback directly in an items updates so team members can open a relevant thread that won’t get lost.

Create and manage goals that make an impact

Related templates.

Action plan template

Project management template

Workflow template

Frequently asked questions.

• What is “realistic” in SMART goals? Realistic refers to if a goal is perceived to be actually achievable given parameters like time and resources.
• Why is setting goals hard? Goal setting can be challenging because early in the brainstorming process, we often produce vague, small and irrelevant goals paired with underdeveloped action plans to foster accountability. Putting processes in place that mitigate these issues can save you a lot of time when it comes to achieving goals and addressing challenges.

4 Free SMART Goal Setting Worksheets & Templates [2024 Update]

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Many people fail in their goals.

The big reason why is they fail to have a plan .

I am sure you've heard the quote:

“A goal without a plan is just a dream.”

There is a lot of wisdom in that quote. If you want to have success with your goals, you need to make them specific, measurable and completed with a deadline. And you need to track these efforts with worksheets that track your progress along the way.

That's why we created four free SMART goal setting worksheets .

From a simple goal sheet to a complex sheet designed to track complicated multi-part (and multi-person) goals, you will discover a treasure trove of downloads that can help you along the way.

To get started, we recommend picking the goal worksheet that matches your level of experience and who else you plan on getting involved in the goal setting process.

Let's get to it…

Table of Contents

SMART Goal Setting Worksheets: An Overview

If you want to take immediate action, then here is a simple table that lists each of the four goal setting worksheets and a quick link to where you can download them. Here are four that you can choose from:

RELATED: 21 Examples of SMART Goals

Want to set goals you can actually achieve? Then watch this video that provides a quick overview of SMART goals with 21 examples.

Now, let's go over each of these four worksheets…

#1. SMART Goal Setting Worksheet

Our first goal setting worksheet is the SMART goal setting worksheet. This is the best worksheet to use if you're an individual looking to skyrocket your goal efforts. I feel this is the most important goal setting plan of the bunch. It's extremely versatile and covers multiple areas while still being limited to a single sheet of paper.

SMART goal setting ensures that your goals will actually work. This format should be written in a language that is clear, concise, and actually achievable. Here's how to do it

Now, if you want to learn more about this concept, then I recommend checking out this resource on SMART goal setting .

Moving on….

The following goal setting worksheet is mostly self-explanatory. However, since this worksheet is one of the most complex of all the goal setting worksheets, I do provide a step-by-step guide to filling this worksheet out beneath the bottom of this FREE download.

How to Complete a SMART Goal Setting Sheet

Section 1: what is the goal.

This section is important because it helps you to define, in as simple terms as possible, what you expect from the goal.

Your goal should:

• Be no more than two-three sentences
• Include exactly what needs to be accomplished
• Include a completion date
• Answer: How will you know the goal is done?
• Answer: How will the goal be done?
• Answer: Who is in charge of completing the goal?

Section 2: Why is This Goal Important?

This is a reality check. People often have nebulous goals they desire but are not willing to put the effort in to accomplish. So in this section, you should answer questions like:

• Does this goal really matter?
• Why does it matter to you?
• Is it a personal goal?
• Is it a business goal?
• How will accomplishing the goal affect your life?
• How will it advance you in your business or career?

Share the reasons this goal is important and see if it something you really want to pursue. Having too many goals only ensures that you achieve none of them.

Section 3: SMART Goal Checklist

This is the heart of the SMART process and is what separates the actionable SMART goal setting worksheet from all other goal setting worksheets.

As you go through these steps, review your goal for all the required steps of the SMART process. If the goal you wrote in step one meets criteria on the checklist, click the appropriate box and move on to the next. If it fails to have criteria, revise the goal to include the criteria.

This SMART goal checklist makes sure that your goal is well defined and can be accomplished.

SMART Goal Steps

S: SPECIFIC

Is the goal clearly written, with no ambivalence? Is it clear who needs to accomplish the goal, and any support they might expect?

M: MEASURABLE

Does the goal answer the questions of how many, how much, and/or how often?

A: ACHIEVABLE

Can you get the support needed to achieve the goal by the target date? Do you have all the resources needed to achieve the goal? Are the results expected realistic?

R: RELEVANT

Does the goal make a difference in your career? Is it going to make an improvement in your personal life? Is it going to significantly make a difference to your business?

T: TIME-BOUND

Does the goal state a clear and specific date?

Section 4: Identify Potential Problems or Complications

This is another key section. Many people fail in their goals because they don't take the time to think of what problems they may encounter.

Every goal has a few obstacles that can send you off track. Listing those potential problems, issues, and complications in this block keeps them fresh in your mind so you can avoid or mitigate any issues.

If you acknowledge potential issues before they happen, you can make an “if-then” statement in your head . Then act on the “if-then” statement if the potential obstacles occur. This helps keep you on track to complete your goals.

Let me give you an example…

When dieting people often have a day where they may indulge in food that is not on their “list” of approved food. Think donuts. So they screw up and eat a doughnut in the morning.

Such a misstep often sends dieters into a tailspin. They make more bad food choices because they feel bad about the first, and are slowly working their way off the diet. However, with an if-then statement of “If I make a bad food choice, then I will immediately get back on track with no recrimination,” you have planned for this eventuality.

(Or you can create an if-then statement to drink this healthy green drink each morning.)

You may go slightly off track, but realizing potential problems keeps the deviation acceptable and keeps the entire goal from failing.

Section 5: Completion Date of Goal

This is just a second area to recognize your targeted completion date for this goal. By filling in this completion date, you are re-affirming the goal (and its deadline in your mind).

Section 6: Create a List of Goal Action Items

Some goals are simple and won’t need action items. Other goals are more complex, and you may need some control over moving parts. Specifically, parts of your overall goal delegated to others. That is where these action items come in.

Consider each action item as a mini-goal. Each is a task that needs to be completed by a specific person, on a specific date to ensure that the overall goal is completed on time.

#2. Goal Execution Plan

The goal execution plan helps you handle multiple goals that may require multiple people — such as goals at work or business, where different people may be in charge of different steps.

This goal worksheet has room for three goals with up to six different steps each . Each “action item” step can be assigned to different people, have different start and end dates, and require their own specific metrics and budgets.

This is a complex goal worksheet that is for complex goals. Not something you would want to use if your only concern is a simple, personal goal.

How to Use the Free Goal Execution Plan

This worksheet includesaction items that need to be tracked. This is the goal you want to use of part or all of these goal worksheet action items that need to be completed by other people.

If you have big, hairy goals, with multiple moving parts, this simple one-page document is the things for you.

This goal setting worksheet has space for 3 goals, which is the most goals you really want to be actively working on at any given time. It also has room under each goal to track up to 6 different action items needed to complete each goal.

I would still recommend using the SMART goals setting worksheet to create your goals. There is only room on this chart to create your goals. So there is no way to measure if the goal itself has any inherent errors that may make it impossible to complete.

What does FREE Goal Execution Plan Include?

#3. child’s goal setting worksheet.

A simple worksheet, this form is for a student, or child at home to encourage their goal setting efforts. These goals should be simple and include whatever the child thinks they need to work on. Not tasks assigned by adults.

The Student or Child’s Goal Planning Worksheet is a simple form made for students at school, or a child at home to get them started planning and implementing their own goals.

The first two sections of the form have the child analyze their strengths and weaknesses to decide on an area they need to improve.

The next section has them commit to a specific improvement.

The fourth section of this goal worksheet has the child layout, in their own words a specific plan for improvement.

Finally, the child is taught “if-then” thinking by deciding what to do if the plan they have made is not successful.

#4. A Simple Goal Setting Worksheet

The power of this goal setting form is in the title. It is simple and basic, yet it still covers some areas that could cause a goal to fail.

There are a few important parts to help accomplish your goals.

The first part is a specific start and completion date. When you do not tie goals to specific dates, you are doomed for your goals to fail.

The next helpful part is the steps to reaching your goal. This makes you think logically about what the goal entails and helps you break it down into smaller and easier parts.

Finally, the two things that help you reach your goal will make you think about things that may help you succeed. For instance, many personal goals are helped by accountability, where you tell others about your goal for encouragement and support.

The Importance of Goal Setting

Setting short-term and long-term goals are important when it comes to improving your focus . One of the many benefits of setting goals is that it helps to propel you forward because it gives you written, step by step instructions on how to achieve your goals while also allowing you to set a date for accomplishment.

Goal planning provides you with the reminder you need to do continue doing what you have to do and allows you to stay in that growth mindset as you work on achieving your goals.

The SMART goals template we have provided above is a good place to start because you are setting realistic goals that are achievable. These worksheets also allow you to identify your priorities while setting milestones as you work toward your listed goals and objectives.

Setting a goal also helps us to believe in ourselves and what we can achieve. Goal setting isn't just about the plan we put in place; it is about finding the inspiration we need while aiming for what we didn't think was possible.

What's Your Favorite Goal Setting Worksheet?

Are you a fan of the SMART Goal setting worksheet? Or do you prefer a bit simpler goals sheet? Maybe the SMART Goal sheet doesn't cover enough for your needs, and you want something a bit more robust and functional?

Whatever your feeling, please let me know in the comments below.

Mainly: How do you like these goals? What could we do to improve these goals printable? If you want more goal printables, what would they be?

The only way we can improve the content of this page, and give you more free downloadable stuff is to have a better idea of what you want.

Also if you'd like to discover additional information on this topic, then I suggest you check out the following articles:

• 87 Action Verbs for SMART Goals
• 10 SMART Goals Examples for Students of All Ages
• The Difference Between Process and Outcome Goals
• 27 Examples of Short-Term Goals
• 25 Examples of Long-Term Goals
• 30 Affirmations for Achieving Goals
• A TED Talk by Tim Ferriss on Why “Fear Setting” is More Important Than Goal Setting
• 7 Proven Alternatives to SMART Goals

Finally, if you want to take your goal-setting efforts to the next level, check out this FREE printable worksheet and a step-by-step process that will help you set effective SMART goals .

5 thoughts on “4 Free SMART Goal Setting Worksheets & Templates [2024 Update]”

Thanks. I found the worksheet very useful for interns.

excellent information – am starting this month to set goals and I am 75 just learning this. thanks

For planning my goals, I use the iSmart.Life app. Last year I completed most of my goals and I can say that good planning is the key to success. I recommend this app because it is very this is a very simple and free web app. You can see the demo and decide whether it suits you or not…

Really great info and helpful ideas for a newbie! Versatile options for planning goals and lots of helpful info and tips! Thank you for providing these worksheets and walking through the process in a clear, easy to follow way! Fabulous!!

Thank you for the information above. I download SMART worksheet. This particular worksheet was easy to use and helpful. Once again thanks for sharing your knowledge and worksheets.

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