To be useful, goals should be defined according to certain criteria. Various criteria have been proposed.
The SMART criteria are:
- Specific: Concentrate on a specific outcome
- Measurable: It should be possible to track and measure our progress towards the goal
- Achievable: The goal should be achievable (attainable) given the available resources
- Relevant: The goal is in line with the bigger picture and vision
- Time-bound: The goal should be achievable by a relevant time point
Here are some additional criteria. Aspire to satisfy as many of them as you can.
- Agreed: All relevant stakeholders should agree on the goal’s formulation
- Ambitious: The goal should stretch our abilities a little beyond our comfort zone and what we think is possible – so that we make sure we don’t miss reaching something we’re actually able to reach
- (Even if eventually we reach less than the ambitious goal – we still may achieve more impressive results than we originally thought possible)
- Assignable: Defining responsibility clearly: Who is going to act toward the goal?
- Clear: It should be clear what the goal means
- Detailed: The goal should be described in enough detail to be understandable by all stakeholders
- Ecological: The goal should sit well in the wider context of your life (relationships, health, other commitments, and values) so that pursuing it does not create harmful side effects or unsustainable trade-offs
- Ethical: The goal should be in line with our ethical values and principles
- Milestones: It should be possible to break the goal into smaller milestones on the path to the goal
- Motivating: The goal should be phrased in a way that inspires motivation
- Positive: The goal should state what you want to achieve and not what you don’t want
- Realistic: Another term for “achievable” / “attainable” / “reasonable” / “resourced”
- Strategic: The goal should advance what matters most in the bigger picture (priorities, vision, and long-term direction) rather than only addressing immediate or peripheral concerns