What SMART Targets Are, How to use them

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In business, we often talk about setting goals and achieving them. What many people don’t realize is that there is a specific way to set goals so that they are more likely to be accomplished.

This method is called SMART targets, and it can be used for anything from increasing revenue to losing weight. In this post, we will discuss what SMART targets are and how you can use them to achieve your business or personal goals!

What are SMART Goals?

SMART targets are those that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timebound. Let’s break each of these down so that you can better understand how to set SMART targets for yourself.

Specific: A specific goal is one that is clearly defined and easy to understand. For example, a goal to “increase sales” is not specific, but a goal to “increase sales by 20% in the next quarter” is.

Measurable: A measurable goal is one that you can track and measure progress against. Using our previous example, you would be able to measure whether or not you achieved your goal of increasing sales by 20% in the next quarter by looking at your sales figures.

Attainable: An attainable goal is one that you can realistically achieve given the resources and time frame that you have. A goal to “double sales in the next month” might be ambitious, but if you have the resources and time to make it happen, then it is an attainable goal.

Relevant: A relevant goal is one that is aligned with your company’s mission and vision. If your goal doesn’t support your overall business strategy, then it isn’t relevant and you shouldn’t be spending time and resources on it.

Timebound: A timebound goal is one that has a specific deadline associated with it. This is important so that you can track progress and ensure that you are on track to achieve your goal.

How to use SMART Goals

Now that you understand what SMART targets are, let’s talk about how you can use them to achieve your goals.

The first step is to identify the goal that you want to set. Once you have done that, ask yourself if it is specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timebound. If not, then you need to revise your goal so that it meets all of the criteria.

Once you have a SMART goal, the next step is to develop a plan of action for how you are going to achieve it. This plan should be specific and include all of the steps that you need to take in order to reach your goal.

The last step is to execute your plan and track your progress. This will help you to see how well you are doing and make any necessary adjustments to your plan.

If you follow these steps, you will be well on your way to achieving any goal that you set for yourself! Try using SMART targets the next time you set a goal and see how it can help you to achieve success.