For those of us in corporate jobs, SMART goals are an annual rite of passage, one which many view with skepticism, if not outright disdain. Even in the best-managed companies, setting goals can be tough, especially in complex businesses and uncertainty times. In poorly-managed companies, the process is little more than a forced march of low-ball guesses and posturing that ends when management finally strongarms the troops to its desired numbers. The last thing, therefore, most of us would think to do would be to apply such seemingly flawed and restrictive techniques to our personal lives.

In my experience, though, setting personal SMART goals has been worthwhile and life-changing. Tactically, the process is very straightforward and manageable. Strategically, it has been the best personal development measure I’ve ever undertaken.

What are SMART goals?

SMART is an acronym meant to define five criteria by which goals are set. While you can find different meanings for the letters in different sources, the general idea is that goals should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. These are pretty simple concepts. (Note that measurability doesn’t necessarily mean the goals needs to be numeric. Rather there needs to be an unambiguous and objective way of saying it’s been achieved.)

When set thoughtfully, SMART goals are statements of your personal values. Thus, pursuing them represents the pursuit of something intrinsically meaningful. The fact that they are planned over a period of reasonable length (like a year), creates the space to make bigger changes which, if you’re disciplined, you can see through.

Step 1: Identify the key themes in your life

To set the right goals, I encourage you to reflect on the most important elements of your life, most broadly conceived. I expect that, for most people, the list will include:

• Something related to yourself or family
• Something related to your work or career
• Something related to the broader world (maybe religious-, altruistic-, or community-based connections)

Your list may vary. By identifying these factors, you create a structure within which you will set your goals. You also, quite explicitly, are forced to acknowledge that pursuing your goals will require you to make regular active decisions about how you allocate your time. This was an important realization for me. I was always familiar with the idea of balance, especially “work-life balance”, but I tended to do very little about it. For many years I compartmentalized my life and focused mainly on planning at work, doing little to organize myself outside of it. This process has helped me truly find a comfortable place of high achievement and happiness.

To stimulate your thinking, I can recommend two books that were helpful to me. I was profoundly influenced by Clay Christensen’s book, How Will You Measure Your Life. For those who don’t know of him, Christensen is a Harvard Business School strategy professor who has written extensively on innovation and disruption. This book widens the focus considerably and applies concepts from business strategy to life. It also provides an excellent technique for imagining success which I’ll discuss below.

Another book I recommend, especially to my managers, is Elizabeth Grace Saunders’, How To Invest Your Time Like Money. This is an easily digestible e-book that is packed with advice on how to prioritize what’s important and allocate your time. In a world that constantly demands more of our attention than we can afford to give, planning helps us say no to the things that fall below our individual thresholds of priority, thereby enabling us to make space for the things we really want to do.

(A side note: I was actually introduced to this book by my favorite blogger, Cal Newport, a published author now in his 30s who, since his early 20s, has written extensively on planning and time management and applied his techniques to become a very accomplished computer science professor. My own personal foray into the study of productivity began with Cal’s blog in 2009. It remains one of the only sources I read regularly and has completely changed the way I work and think.)

Step 2: Write down what success looks like

Christensen’s book provided a crucial breakthrough for me in creating goals. He develops a concept he calls “likeness.” Just as it sounds, likeness is about envisioning what success across the different facets of your life will look like. What would your better self be doing if you achieved your goals?

In our personal lives, success might look like family contentment, or being able to travel, or living a healthier life. In a work context it might be breaking through to the next level in your career, or changing careers, or getting a raise. In a social context it may be volunteering or more actively participating in your community.

These likenesses should be deeply personal and meaningful. Imagine that, a year from now, you have done all you said you wanted to do. Likenesses are the person you want to see in the mirror or the photos taken of you when time’s up, the person you're proud to be. By imagining your likenesses, you create the bridge to action.

Step 3: Create your SMART Goals

Likenesses are important, but they aren’t enough. Likenesses need to be transformed into something measurable and concrete, something you will know you have done because you can unambiguously point to it. Christensen calls these metrics, but it’s useful to think of them as SMART goals. By identifying the key themes in your life, you will have already taken care of the Relevance criterion. Now you need to create Measurable outcomes that are Simple and Achievable during a given Time.

The likeness of family contentment could translate into spending a quiet hour reading or playing with kids after dinner a few nights a week. On its face, this should be a simple and achievable goal provided you set this time aside. An example of a bad goal might be translating the likeness of career achievement into being promoted. Unless you’re already the boss, there’s little control you have over the promotion decision. A better goal might be to learn a new skill that will help you get to the next level, or by being more active in your industry to build your network and increase your market value.

An interesting nuance about setting metrics is that they don’t necessarily need to be brand-new things. I find it useful to divide metrics into things I should STOP, START, or CONTINUE doing. This tried-and-true method allows for the important fact that there are things you want to say “no” to, or things you’re already doing that you want to carry on.

Improving your odds of success

When setting goals, there are a number of ways you can improve the probability of succeeding.

First, expect to spend a decent amount of time thinking through this. It may take you several sessions to come up with a draft. If you’re really busy right now, go out a few weeks where your calendar should be less booked and set two or three appointments with yourself, each for a couple hours. After you’ve come up with your goals, let them sit for a few weeks to ripen, then come back to them. Tweak them until you feel good. But then consider them set and don’t change them. If you’ve done this correctly, then they should be robust enough to accommodate changes over time.

Second, and carrying on from the first point, systematize how you manage your time as it will help you be more disciplined. By systematize, I mean use techniques that help ensure that current events don't disrupt the things you want to do. Set appointments with yourself to periodically review your goals. Pay careful attention to your calendar and schedule recurring appointments to make progress on things that will require longer effort. I have a recurring appointment at 9am every Monday to plan my schedule for the week and fit things in around the time I set to think, write, eat, and do other things that are important. You don’t have to plan every aspect of your life. But if you are like me, you could do with being a bit more thoughtful about reducing distractions and using your time more effectively. The links above to the Saunders’ book and Cal Newport’s blog will give you very sound and easy-to-follow advice. I can’t recommend them more highly.

Third, as a practical matter, resist the urge to set too many goals. Goal setting is a hopeful and inspiring process that, without a measure of pragmatism, will cause you to put more on your plate than you have time for. Too much to do will create unhelpful stress.  

One final thing: at the end of your chosen time period (a year is probably good) you will need to look back at your performance. Employee surveys consistently show that we tend to rate our performance and personal qualities higher than others might rate us, so make sure you’re being honest. If you’re not, you’re only shortchanging yourself. Enlist a close friend, family member, or colleague to help you with your self-assessment.

Example: My goals

You may find it helpful to see what my goals look like. Below are likenesses and a few metrics for two key areas of my life. (I have goals around a third area, but they are more personal and I haven't shared them here.)

Live Happily

Likenesses

• Calm and engaged with my wife and children
• Connected and engaged with friends and extended family
• Healthy and well-rounded

Metrics

• IMPROVE: Discipline in managing time and schedule, especially focusing on deep work
• IMPROVE: Sit with kids to read or play during time before and after dinner
• CONTINUE: Running, eating well, particularly when traveling
• CONTINUE: Reading, developing (read at least one book per quarter in French)
• CONTINUE: Connecting with my wife

Live Constructively

Likenesses

• Activity that exhibits leadership and authority arising from experience and hard work
• Activity that is well managed (especially networks) and disciplined, challenging and rewarding

Metrics

• IMPROVE: Discipline in managing time and schedule, especially focusing on deep work
• CONTINUE: Diligently setting priorities
• CONTINUE: To remain positive and focused at work.
• CONTINUE: Participating in my networks (strategic, operational, developmental)

You’ll notice above that I aim to improve my personal discipline managing my time, and that this features in both my personal and professional facets of life. I expect this to constantly have a status of IMPROVE, mainly because leading an active life requires making constant choices and I slip up more than I’d like. You’ll also notice that there is nowhere at the moment where I am looking to start something new. This was not the case at the beginning of 2010 when I created my very first set of personal SMART goals. There were several things I needed to START. For the moment, though, I’m in what I would call a maintenance mode. Six years on from my first attempt at setting goals, I am doing the things I value on a regular basis.

Conclusion

I get funny looks sometimes when I tell people that I have personal SMART goals. I think most people feel this level of planning is, at best, artificial and, at worst, restrictive. But I think there’s a point in life, especially in this era of constant connectedness, where we realize that we need to make choices about where we put our focus and attention. When we don’t do this, the years can pass like a swift current that carries us away toward a sea of regret. But when we do this—when we actively paddle—we transform ambitions into achievement.

I’ve fallen short of my goals more than I would like to admit. But this pales in comparison to the things I've accomplished that I value immensely. The process has been both inspiring and humbling. Most importantly, it has been robust enough to stand the test of time across three companies, three international moves, the birth of a child, and an ever-changing array of personal and professional interests. Setting SMART goals has become an essential part of my approach to leading a better life, one I can’t imagine doing without. I hope it’s helpful for you.