How SMART are your objectives?

SMART objectives are a form of objective setting. They allow managers and employers to work together to set, track and complete both short and long-term goals. By using SMART, you can ensure that employees aware of the goals they are working towards. By doing this they help to be an indicator of productivity in the workplace. They are also key in motivating and engaging employees.

The SMART Objective System

Objectives are important in any organisation. They not only set out what the company is trying to achieve but also help to organise employees to ensure they are working towards certain goals. The SMART acronym helps businesses to set out their objectives effectively. The methodology helps ensure that the objectives set are realistic and provide motivation to their employees. Here is a breakdown of the acronym. We’ve also provided a brief description of how each part of the “SMART” objective can help to ensure these objectives are achieved:

• S – Specific. Target a specific area for improvement/a specific mission statement for your goal
• M – Measurable. How will progress towards your target be measured? Measurable goals highlight to both the manager and employee that progress is being made towards the end goal and acts as an indicator of progress.
• A – Achievable/Agreed. The objective set should be feasible to complete and should be agreed upon by the manager and the employee.
• R – Relevant. Set objectives that are relevant to the wider goals of your company and what it wants to achieve. Is your objective worth dedicating the time to? How will this affect other parts of the business?
• T – Time-Bound. By setting a specific timeframe to complete your goals in, you can judge the productivity of your work. It helps you to evaluate your progress at staging posts throughout the task. Once the period is up, you can evaluate whether the objective has been met. If you need to amend it, you can see what needs to be changed to ensure future objectives can succeed.

The Importance of Utilising SMART Objectives

Through utilizing SMART objectives, managers can work together with their employees to create a plan that meet their goals in the workplace. Managers can use SMART objectives to keep their team motivated. If implemented well, the system will help to create attainable and specific goals. This will give their employees a clear focus of what their work is contributing to. In fact, according to a Gallup poll, roughly half of all employees don’t know what is expected of them at work. Through utilising SMART objectives, this problem can be nullified, leading employees to have a clear picture of what goals they need to accomplish.

In addition to this, the SMART system can be used to motivate your workers through an incentive program, where employees can be rewarded for reaching certain milestones. This can keep employees focused and productive and also act as a progress indicator towards the total completion of your objective.

As mentioned in the breakdown of the SMART acronym, objectives should be agreed upon by the manager and the employee. Including the employees when setting the goals allows them to take ownership of the work they are doing. It allows them to see how their workplace objectives fit into the wider goals of the business and how their work is contributing to these goals. This also helps to ensure that there is an understanding between the employees and the manager of what goals are attainable in certain timeframes. This can lead to a more positive workplace. Employees will be less likely to feel the stress of being overworked whilst still being productive working towards the goals that they helped to set themselves.

Why should you use SMART objectives?

In a busy workplace, SMART objectives can create achievable goals. They help provide clarity, focus and motivation to the employees. Clear and open communication between managers and employees is key. By getting this right you can help to avoid the setting of unclear goals which can cause unnecessary stress and lack of productivity.