CHALLENGING THE STATUS QUO...SMART to CLEAR to FAST goals

One of the most cited goal setting techniques and the one a majority of managers opt for is SMART goals. Understanding and pursuing those SMART goals that try to suffice the principles “specific, measurable, attainable, reasonable and time-bound” is often part of a traditional approach to goal management. Belonging to this approach are oftentimes an annual cycle, privately set and reviewed goals, and a strong linkage to annual performance rewards.

Will this work in the current context of COVID19 challenges?

Based on the general VUCA(vulnerable, Uncertain, Complex and ambiguous)environment prevailing in the latter half of last decade, the shift went towards...Forget SMART Goals -- Try CLEAR Goals Instead. Setting CLEAR goals can lead you to the real success that you and your team are aiming for. CLEAR stands for:

Collaborative (Goals should encourage employees to work together collaboratively and in teams)

Limited (Goals should be limited in both scope and duration)

Emotional (Goals should make an emotional connection to employees, tapping into their energy and passion)

Appreciable (Large goals to be broken down into smaller goals so they can be accomplished more quickly and easily for long-term gain)

Refinable (Set goals with a headstrong and steadfast objective, but as new situations or information arise, give yourself permission to refine and modify your goals)

With the current pandemic and global uncertainties surrounding us, SMART and CLEAR may not be of much help. And in a scenario like this, it is better to opt for FAST goals.

FAST goals are an acronym for goals, which are embedded in (1)Frequent discussions, (2)set Ambitiously, (3)measured by Specific metrics and (4)Transparent for everyone in the organization.

Frequently discussed...A frequent discussion of goals allows to keep focus and maintain these goals top of mind. Also, executing frequent discussion helps employees to better understand how their work contributes to the overall company’s success. Moreover, it drives employee engagement.

Ambitious...Ambitious goals trigger you to try a little harder. When you are forced go beyond current practices, to stretch a little more and push a little further, you usually have to seek innovative and more creative ways to attain your goals. 

Specific...Specific, ambitious goals increases performance of an average team or individual. This helps you to enhance your agility by adapting faster and making adequate course corrections.

Transparent...Goals and their current level of achievement should be visible and accessible to everybody in the company. This helps to better align the large amount of manifold goals and consequent activities with corporate strategy. And to coordinate more effectively across silos.

Goals are a powerful tool to drive strategy execution. To harness their potential, leaders must move beyond the conventional wisdom of SMART goals and their entrenched practices. Instead, they need to think in terms of being FAST, by having frequent discussions about goals, setting ambitious targets, translating them into specific metrics and milestones, and making them public for everyone to see.