A couple days ago I gave you the first reason (out of three) I believe SMART goals are not so smart... Check it out here!
So what? The second aspect of "SMART" goals that I'd encourage you to question is; Although "SMART" goals have some specificity around the "What" and the "When", there's no connection to a bigger "Why". When you aren't very clear about your "Why", no wonder it is easy to give up when the "going gets tough"! An example of a "SMART" goal could be "Loose 10lb/5kg by Nov 1st". Specific – yes, Measurable – yes, Achievable – yep, Realistic – absolutely, Timebound – clearly! Many of us have set a similar goal more than once. Yet, how inspired do you really feel about this kind of goal? How likely are you to continue to feel inspired and stick to such a goal when you are tempted or fall back into old habits? Often, a goal without a clear and meaningful "Why" feels very "dry" and factual, lacking clear vision for how the end result will actually affect us. There might also be a bit of a "should" vibe to it. We feel like we should get in shape. We should loose weight. Like we are taking it on just to please someone else or live up to what is expected by society at large. I suggest we broaden our view and consider the "Why" of each of our goals. It's like getting your head out of the details and looking at the bigger picture of how this goal fits into out life's ambitions. For each goal, ask yourself: “In the bigger scheme of things, how does reaching this goal matter? In what way will my life situation be better or my opportunities improve by reaching this goal?” The lack of true understanding of our personal "why" is especially common for things that are common in our culture. Pretty much everyone wants to drop a few pound, get in shape, spend more time with those we care about and so forth… We tend to not question WHY we are actually going after some of those goals. Rather, I suggest you pause to ask yourself "why", in order to get a better understanding about what is truly important about each goal. Often, the really motivating reason for us to take something on is not immediately obvious. It might be "buried" several layers deep. For each answer you get after asking yourself "Why?", ask again: "How is that important?", "So what?". This will get you closer to the core of what truly matters to you about this. For the weight loss example: "When that is true (having lost 10 lb, or whatever the initial goal was) what will be different?" "What becomes possible? ...and what is important about THAT?... so what?... Why so?..." – you might sound a bit like an inquisitive young child but keep going, it's worth it! ;) You might discover that what you long for is to feel an ease of movement or feel strong and equipped to engage in a specific activity. You might realize that there are completely different goals that you want to set, for which the weight loss is not a prerequisite. Maybe you realize you want to learn how do dance? Climb a mountain? Speak with confidence? If so; Start dancing! Start taking small hikes! Start speaking! When you put your energy toward something bigger that you truly feel inspired to work for, the weight is no longer an excuse and chances are that some pounds will drop as a natural outcome of you getting into inspired action. When considering goals that are set for you by someone else - like company goals or department goals - it's equally important to ask "Why?". What are we ultimately aiming for here? What bigger vision does this goal support? So, to truly set SMART goals, in addition to being ASPIRATIONAL, I believe they also need to be RELEVANT to a bigger vision. If this was useful, please like, comment and follow! Want more? Read about the third/last reason SMART goals aren't so smart... here. You'd think that if something was specifically called "SMART" that you could trust it to definitely and thoroughly be a smart thing... Well, I'd like to share with you THREE ways that "SMART" goals are NOT so smart and introduce and enhanced formula for goal-setting.
So, first, what does "SMART" stand for? Chances are you have been instructed to create SMART goals both for your department as well as for your personal development plan. The acronym has been credited George Doran who introduced the concept in a Management Review in 1981. It stands for that good goals should be: S - Specific M - Measurable A - Achievable R - Realistic T - Time bound Sounds pretty sound, right? Yet, I’d like to challenge this way of goal setting on three counts. Here's the first one… Is mediocrity a goal of yours? The first aspects of SMART goals I'd encourage you to question is the "Achievable & Realistic" parts. Although this guideline is surely well intended, as a way of setting ourselves up for success by setting goals that are "within reach", but how exciting is that!? How far will that really take you? Just think back in your own life – re-call a time when you accomplished something that made you really proud of yourself. An achievement that made you say: "YESSS, I really did that!" From the get-go when you initially set that goal, was it clearly within reach? Was the time you worked on this goal free of worry about being able to achieve it or not? I’m guessing not. In January of 2013 I started working with a new coach and she asked me what main goal I had for the 6 months we were to work together. I boldly said I want to quit my job. She asked "By when?" and I surprised myself by quickly responding "Before the summer". Immediately after saying it, I couldn't believe I had just said that out loud, that I was actually committing to this goal “officially”. Wow, I had actually put a date on this longstanding wish of mine to leave my corporate job to become a full time coach. Long story short; the spring was full of hesitation when I frequently talked myself into staying - I was after all at a great company, making good money, had great colleagues that had practically felt like family after so many years etc. etc. - but early May I resigned and I have never felt more empowered and free. At the time it definitely felt like a leap requiring a big dose of faith! I believe that to really accomplish something extraordinary and truly grow as individuals we need to stretch ourselves outside our comfort zone. We need to set goals that push us to expand beyond what we know we can do and into our true capacity. So, to truly set SMART goals I believe they also have to be ASPIRATIONAL If this was useful, please like, comment and follow! I also invite you to read about two other reasons SMART goals aren't so smart... 2) "So what?" & 3) "Got your blinders on?" So you’re moving through your day, connecting with other people with a greeting like “How have you been?” or “How are things going?”
What would you say is the most common answers you’re getting? Do you, like me, often get a response along the lines of: “It's been kind of crazy" or "I’m REALLY busy right now”? How often do you find yourself feeling that way? Well, I get it. We live in a very fast paced society – perhaps your profession or location even more so that others’ – and we are all really just trying to keep up and do the “right” thing. We want to live up to expectations, deliver results, and make sure we are “in the game”. Yet, this common answer of being “really busy right now” got me thinking… What does this answer really say about the way we live our lives? We all know that colleague (or friend, or family member, or ourselves!) that consistently and always is “SO busy right now”… There is just never enough time in the day or enough days in the week for all the demands put upon them. They are needed here, there, and EVERYWHERE… If there was just a way to clone them, things would perhaps finally become manageable... When I hear that answer, my questions become; With WHAT are you busy? And WHY? In my experience, working with clients or just through my own inquiry when I fall into the “busyness” trap, asking those questions help provide insight. Considering how these things that I’m so busy with matter to me, or, at least matter… somehow, to someone will start to shed a light onto the true importance of what I am doing. Am I just plugging away and staying busy without much awareness or discrimination around what I commit to? Any time I feel like I am “stretched too thin” or realize that I am mindlessly squeeze more things into my already packed schedule, I take it as a HUGE warning flag. It is time to look closer at what CHOICES I am making. It’s time to empower myself in making better choices and setting more clear and realistic expectations, both with myself and with others. A more significant answer When I think of someone who is truly committed to doing something that they really care about, the answer to the question “How have you been?” is likely to be quite different. I believe that someone who is busy with something that truly feels significant for them, who is busy with something for which they are aware of WHY they have committed to it, will answer this question differently. They will talk about WHAT they are busy with and WHY. Assuming you are not to busy ;) … but actually stick around to hear them answer your question, they will eagerly share the cool or fascinating or otherwise important thing they are busy with. “I’m working on this really cool program that will help people with X” “I’ve been trying to find a solution to the really fascinating problem of …” “I’ve been supporting my dear friend during a difficult transition and I’m so happy I could help” “I’m pouring my heart and soul into my new role as …” Well, that’s what I’ve been busy thinking about lately… and I spend time on these kind of inquires because it inspires me to contemplate why we do the things we do. Perhaps it inspires you. Perhaps it will remind you next time you think of yourself as “so busy”, to pause and consider WHAT am I actually busy with and WHY? |
AuthorAs a Holistic Time Management coach Ulrika reflects on ways to live our every day on purpose - with agility. Archives
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