What are the common pitfalls to avoid when setting and pursuing SMART goals?

All goals start with a big picture perspective. If you can see it, you can do it. Clarity is key. SMART goals provide focus and a good place to begin your journey.

There are different definitions of SMART goals and how they play out in an organization. Please make sure you are on the same page when you share your SMART goals within your work context.

Specific and documented goals are crucial for individuals to reach their potential and achieve their aspirations. Setting SMART goals is an effective way to ensure that personal development is focused, measurable, and achievable. By breaking down larger aspirations into smaller, more specific goals, individuals can establish a clear path toward self-improvement. SMART goals also enable individuals to track their progress, receive feedback, and adjust their plans as needed. Moreover, having clear and measurable objectives can help individuals stay motivated and accountable for their personal growth. In short, SMART goals provide structure and direction for personal development, which can lead to a more fulfilling and successful life.

The benefit of SMART goals starts with the action of brainstorming and documenting your goals, which makes them more likely to achieve. The SMART goal framework is unique in that breaking down larger goals into smaller steps is built into the framework. As you define the measures, relevance and timelines, you automatically start to think about the smaller goals involved. It helps you to see how various aspects of your life impact your personal goal setting and to create a personal strategic plan that fits into your lifestyle.

It's important to understand the difference between "means goals" and "end goals" when using smart goals. Means goals are the goals we THINK we need to work towards in order to get to our actual "end goals", which are usually tied to a feeling or experience. Example: a "means goal" could be losing 20 lbs. and "end goal" is the reason why you want to lose 20 lbs. It could be to feel more vitality so you have the energy to play with your kiddos. It could be to feel stronger in your body. Maybe it's to feel desirable or beautiful. Often times we'll find that our "means goal" is only one possible way of reaching our true "end goal". Our smart goals should focus on "end goals" and not "means goals."

As humans, a challenge w/ SMART goals is knowing what we want. It's easier to think about what we DON'T want vs. what we DO. Martin Luther King Jr. said, "Rarely do we find men who willingly engage in hard, solid thinking. There is an almost universal quest for easy answers and half-baked solutions. Nothing pains some people more than having to think." When declaring a goal, we need organized plans; even when uncertain of "how," one must begin to execute, risking the challenge of failure. Innate behavioral wiring drives how we think & respond to the process & Behavioral SuperPowers rise to the challenge 91% of the time. Therefore, become self-aware & courageously think about your burning desires to fuel SMART goal-setting! #behaviormatters

We forget that we get to make the rules. Break it down. Categorize your SMART goals : Home, Business etc Then create short and long SMART goals: 3mth, 6mths, 12mths There are project management digital downloads on Etsy to keep you accountable.

The main pitfall to avoid with the SMART goals framework is to underestimate what you are capable of, particularly as you assess whether a goal is realistic or attainable for you. The question is: "realistic according to who?" The four-minute mile was thought to be unrealistic and dangerous until Roger Bannister achieved it in the 1950s and it's now a standard for many pro-middle-distance runners. A similar pitfall is true for the measurable part of the framework. You could easily become susceptible to Parkinson's Law where the work required to meet the goal expands to fill the time allotted for its completion. Ultimately, setting goals requires a high level of self-awareness to avoid letting your limiting beliefs minimize your potential.

Even if a goal is SMART, pursuing multiple goals simultaneously can be risky. Having too many goals, even if they're SMART, can fragment our attention, time, and efforts. This often results in exhaustion, demotivation, and self-doubt. The solution is to evaluate first which goals can have the most positive impact with the least amount of effort.

When we have set multiple SMART goals, we can evaluate which ones maximize our impact with the least effort and prioritize those. To make this easy and visual, we can create a matrix with two axes: impact and complexity, and position each goal accordingly.