Are SMART Goals Always the Way to Go?
In the last decade or so (maybe more at this point actually), SMART goals have infiltrated the professional and wellness arenas. Every personal project, every performance review, every dream. If you were going to do something, if you were going to have a goal, better make it a SMART one. Article after article touted the benefits of setting SMART goals, but are they always the way to go? Do SMART goals have a downside?
Beginning at the beginning, what is a smart goal? What does that stand for? SMART goals stand for ambitions that are: Specific Measurable Achievable Relevant Time-Bound. They take a massive idea and break it down into its component parts in and sets a time-table for when they will be completed. They exist hand in hand with that boot-strap concept we explored a bit in the previous post. SMART goals are designed to get stuff done.
Why can these be helpful for some people? SMART goals inform a “how” and “when” into larger ideas that can sometimes get lost in vagaries. For those who struggle to prioritize, using the SMART system to create a goal breaks it down into component parts and creates a guide for what needs to happen, how and when. There can be a lot of good that comes from goal-setting in this way. For those who thrive in the big picture, goal setting the SMART way can help them bring that big picture to reality. For those who struggle with goal setting period, the SMART method can bring the abstract into the concrete.
With all of this good, you might be wondering, how can this method be harmful? It’s a blueprint. Who wouldn’t want to a blueprint? SMART goals can be harmful for more rigid thinkers. Because SMART goals shine in their specificity, they can create pressure for those who are then beholden to the goal and cannot allow for flexibility. For those who are high achievers and hold themselves to high standards, they may not create space in either the realistic realm or the time-limited realm for life to happen. The inflexibility of SMART goals can unintentionally create pressure which may work against the joy of achieving a goal and the ability to attain a goal.
How might you make the best choice for you? SMART or not? Or, how might you make the SMART system work for you? First, be honest with yourself. Where do you tend to get stuck? Are you really big picture and struggle to bring things to fruition? SMART is great for you. Are you a hard working details person who tends to get lost in the details? SMART may not be for you. Do you put a ton of pressure on yourself to meet deadlines even if they’re arbitrary and fall into a shame spiral if you can’t or don’t meet them? You might need to tweak SMART to allow for flexibility. Second, if you start out with SMART goals, periodically check in with yourself. Your goals are yours and you CAN move the goal-post if you need to. As you get into the doing of achieving a goal, you’re going to get more information about what goes into it and what it is going to take. It’s okay to reevaluate any part of the SMART process and alter it given your new information.
SMART goals are a tool like any other tool. They can be helpful when applied correctly to the appropriate situation and, like any other tool, can cause great harm when inappropriately utilized in the wrong situations. It does not have to be your only tool and you do not have to be a purist. Play with it and see how it works best for your particular working style and your particular way of thinking. If you’re struggling with goal setting and how it feels while you’re working toward your goals, click the button below and lets start a conversation.