The document outlines the SMART goal-setting system, which emphasizes that goals should be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. It explains the importance of defining goals through a series of questions related to what, why, who, where, which, how, and when. Examples of both poor and SMART goals are provided to illustrate the effective application of this system in small business planning.

1. How to Set
Achievable Goals
using the
The biggest problem with small business is not setting goals
SMART
Goal
System

2. Ties strategic planning with
implementation
which is
the action necessary to produce
change
The Idea
The idea of the SMART goal was conceived by a business psychologist named George
Doran

3. Let me break that down for you and explain further…
According to the SMART criteria, goals need to be
S specific
M measurable
A attainable
R relevant to the overall vision and mission of the business
T include a timeframe for completion
Get SMART

4. Specific
To set a specific goal, you must answer the following 5 “W” questions
1. What: What do I want to accomplish?
2. Why: Specific reasons, purpose or benefits of accomplishing the goal
3. Who: Who is involved?
4. Where: Identify a location
5. Which: Identify requirements and constraints

5. Measurable
To determine if your goal is measurable, ask questions
such as
How much?
How many?
How will I know when it is accomplished?

6. Attainable
 Set realistic goals that you are able to
achieve but which will stretch you
 It is by pushing yourself that you will attain
your goals
 To set an attainable goal you must answer
the “H” question
How: How can the goal be accomplished?

7. Relevant
3 To be relevant, a goal must represent an objective toward which you are
both willing and able to work
3 Look towards tying your goal in with your mission or vision statement
3 Your goal needs to be important to you and relevant to your ultimate
business vision

8. Timeframe
With no time frame tied to it there’s no sense of urgency
A goal
• should be grounded within a time frame
• must have a target date
To set a timely goal you must answer the sixth “W” question
When: Establish a time frame
Commitment to deadlines helps
teams to focus efforts on
completion of the goal on or
before the due date
Goals without deadlines or
schedules for completion tend to
be overtaken by the day-to-day
crises that invariably arise in an
organisation

9. The Questions in Review
Let’s take a moment to review those questions we need to ask ourselves
1. What: What do I want to accomplish?
2. Why: Specific reasons, purpose or benefits of accomplishing the goal
3. Who: Who is involved?
4. Where: Identify a location
5. Which: Identify requirements and constraints
6. How: How can the goal be accomplished?
7. When: Establish a time frame

10. EXAMPLES OF SMART GOALS
7 Poor Goal
Reduce customer complaints in service department
3 SMART Goal
Design and implement new customer complaint procedure in service
department to reduce complaints from 30% to 5% of total business by 1
September 2011
Example One

11. EXAMPLES OF SMART GOALS
Example Two
7 Poor Goal
Start new blog for business
3 SMART Goal
To achieve an increase in repeat business, start new blog site to be posted
to once per week highlighting benefits of our product
All customers to be emailed an RSS feed link with a monthly newsletter sent
out highlighting posts for that month
Blog to be established in one month with a newsletter and email to go out
at the end of month two

12. SMART Goal Template
You can find the SMART Goal template on my website
http://www.yourva.co.nz/how-to-set-achievable-goals-using-the-smart-goal-
system/
This will help you to identify your goals
Once you have you goal it is a simple
task to set your strategy and break this
down into action plans

13. For the full
article…
http://www.yourva.co.nz/how-to-set-achievable-goals-using-the-smart-
goal-system/