The Case Against SMART Goals (and what you should do instead) -

The Case Against SMART Goals (and what you should do instead)

We’ve all been there. You’re in a meeting, or maybe even just daydreaming at your desk, and someone proposed the age-old goal-setting method known as SMART goals. You know the drill: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely. But is this really the best way to set goals? Let’s take a closer look.

SPECIFIC?

The first problem with SMART goals is that they’re often too specific. When you’re specific about what you want to achieve, you close yourself off to other possibilities. You might achieve your goal, sure, but what if there’s a better way? A more efficient way? A more fun way? By being too specific, you might miss out on something great.

MEASURABLE?

The second issue with SMART goals is that they’re often too measurable. Again, this goes back to the idea of closing yourself off to other possibilities. If you’re constantly measuring your progress, you’re not giving yourself room to improvise or be creative. Worse yet, you might become so focused on meeting your target that you lose sight of the bigger picture entirely.

ACHIEVABLE?

The third problem with SMART goals is that they’re often too achievable. This might seem like a good thing at first glance, but it’s actually a major flaw. When your goal is too achievable, it’s not challenging enough. It doesn’t push you to reach your full potential. And worst of all, it’s simply not inspiring.

RELEVANT?

The fourth issue with SMART goals is that they’re often not relevant. This means that they don’t align with your larger objectives or with what’s important to you. If your goal isn’t relevant, then why are you even pursuing it in the first place? There’s no point in setting a goal for the sake of setting a goal—it has to mean something to you.

SO WHAT?

So what’s the alternative to SMART goal setting? Well, there isn’t one specific answer that will work for everyone. But here are a few suggestions:

For starters, try setting goals that are more flexible and less restrictive. Allow yourself some wiggle room to explore different possibilities and see what works best for you.

Secondly, try setting goals that challenge you but are still achievable—the sweet spot lies somewhere in between too easy and too hard.

And finally, make sure your goals are always relevant to your overall objectives and values; if they’re not, then they’re not worth pursing in the first place!

And thirdly, why not be SMART, create challenging, realistic and flexible goals, with your peers in AGame Alliance, a community of growth orientated small business owners who understand we can grow faster and go further together. Click here to learn more – http://www.AGameMasterMinds.com/agame-alliance

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The Case Against SMART Goals (and what you should do instead)