What is the difference between a goal and a SMART goal? People set goals every day, but people also fail to achieve these goals every day. Whether a person is setting a short-term goal for a task that needs to be finished today or another person is setting a long-term career goal that might take years to achieve, it is important for these individuals to set goals that give them the best possible chances for success. This seminar will teach you how to set and reach SMART goals, and it will also give you tools to identify whether your goals need adjusting if you are struggling to reach them.

1. Setting (and reaching)Setting (and reaching)
S-M-A-R-T GoalsS-M-A-R-T Goals
Ed HansenEd Hansen
09/18/1309/18/13

2. You can call me Ed…You can call me Ed…
(or Mr. Hansen, Mr. H, or even Mr. Ed if(or Mr. Hansen, Mr. H, or even Mr. Ed if
you prefer, but normally I just go by Ed)you prefer, but normally I just go by Ed)

3. Before we get startedBefore we get started
Some introductions are requiredSome introductions are required
Let’s get to know each otherLet’s get to know each other
(a little better)(a little better)
1.1. What is your name?What is your name?
2.2. What is your position here atWhat is your position here at XXXXXXXX, and, and
how long have you worked for thishow long have you worked for this
company?company?
3.3. What do you enjoy doing for fun/in yourWhat do you enjoy doing for fun/in your
spare time?spare time?
4.4. What isWhat is YOUR GOALYOUR GOAL in taking thisin taking this
seminar?seminar?

4. Now take out a piece of paperNow take out a piece of paper
We’re starting…not with our goals…We’re starting…not with our goals…
but with our VALUES.but with our VALUES.
– Think about what is important to you.Think about what is important to you.
– Write TEN values that are important toWrite TEN values that are important to
you in order from most to leastyou in order from most to least
Sample (in alphabetical order)Sample (in alphabetical order)

5. Now put your list of valuesNow put your list of values
off to the sideoff to the side
(We’ll come back to these later)(We’ll come back to these later)

6. What got me interested in goalsWhat got me interested in goals
in the first place?in the first place?
““Theories of Motivation”Theories of Motivation”
– Taught by Dr. Joe Hatcher @ RiponTaught by Dr. Joe Hatcher @ Ripon
CollegeCollege
My undergraduate psychology advisorMy undergraduate psychology advisor
We had to choose a motivational goalWe had to choose a motivational goal
that would last all semester longthat would last all semester long
– The class organized a half-marathonThe class organized a half-marathon
– I also ran a full marathon…26.2 miles!I also ran a full marathon…26.2 miles!

7. What is a goal?What is a goal?
Write down the best definition you can.Write down the best definition you can.
The result (or achievement) to which effort is directedThe result (or achievement) to which effort is directed
But what makes a goal aBut what makes a goal a GOODGOOD goal?goal?
Let’s brainstorm a little together…Let’s brainstorm a little together…

8. Strength of goals being setStrength of goals being set
depends on CONTEXTdepends on CONTEXT
Work related goals will be differentWork related goals will be different
than personal goalsthan personal goals
Ex: Businessdictionary.comEx: Businessdictionary.com
– Goal: An observable andGoal: An observable and
measurable end result having one ormeasurable end result having one or
more objectives to be achieved withinmore objectives to be achieved within
a more or less fixed timeframe.a more or less fixed timeframe.
This definition is more specific, but isThis definition is more specific, but is
it defining *SMART* goals?it defining *SMART* goals?

9. S-M-A-R-T GoalsS-M-A-R-T Goals
If you enter SMART Goals as aIf you enter SMART Goals as a
search term on Google…search term on Google…
You’ll come up with a lot!You’ll come up with a lot!
(Everyone thinks their acronym is(Everyone thinks their acronym is
the best)the best)
I, of course, am no exceptionI, of course, am no exception

10. S-M-A-R-T GoalsS-M-A-R-T Goals
Is my way actually the best? Maybe.Is my way actually the best? Maybe.
– But it is widely accepted and also makesBut it is widely accepted and also makes
the most sensethe most sense to meto me
– In truth, you can adopt any of theseIn truth, you can adopt any of these
SMART goal approaches and see successSMART goal approaches and see success
These goal setting approaches all have oneThese goal setting approaches all have one
important thing in commonimportant thing in common
DATA!DATA!

11. Locke & Latham –Locke & Latham –
Goal ResearchersGoal Researchers
Industrial/Organizational (IO)Industrial/Organizational (IO)
PsychologistsPsychologists
Before Locke & LathamBefore Locke & Latham
– Businesses were at a loss when it cameBusinesses were at a loss when it came
to motivating its employeesto motivating its employees
– No consistency in their approachesNo consistency in their approaches
– NoNo datadata to support their techniquesto support their techniques
After…we have DECADES worth ofAfter…we have DECADES worth of
datadata that tell a very specific storythat tell a very specific story
Ed LockeEd Locke Gary LathamGary Latham

12. Setting goals – A pretestSetting goals – A pretest
Before I give you the SMART goalBefore I give you the SMART goal
guidelines, I’d like you to practiceguidelines, I’d like you to practice
– One short-termOne short-term (Less than one month)(Less than one month)
– One mediumOne medium (1 – 12 months)(1 – 12 months)
– One longOne long (More than a year)(More than a year)
We’ll evaluate how SMART our goalsWe’ll evaluate how SMART our goals
really are as we goreally are as we go

13. S-M-A-R-T GoalsS-M-A-R-T Goals
SSpecificpecific
MMeasureableeasureable
AAttainablettainable
RRelevantelevant
TTime-boundime-bound

14. SSMARTMART
SpecificSpecific GoalsGoals
– Before Locke & LathamBefore Locke & Latham
Best practice was typically to use aBest practice was typically to use a “Do“Do
your best”your best” goal…sounds nicegoal…sounds nice
What problems do you see with thisWhat problems do you see with this
type of goal?type of goal?
– Examples of goals people struggle with?Examples of goals people struggle with?
Fitness goalsFitness goals
New Year’s ResolutionsNew Year’s Resolutions
Time managementTime management

15. MeasureableMeasureable GoalsGoals
– Most of the time, a specific goal is oneMost of the time, a specific goal is one
that we can MEASUREthat we can MEASURE
Remember, data is helpful.Remember, data is helpful.
– So let’s go back to our general, non-So let’s go back to our general, non-
specific examples.specific examples.
– How can we make these goals specificHow can we make these goals specific
AND measureable?AND measureable?
Fitness, Resolutions, Time managementFitness, Resolutions, Time management
SSMMARTART

16. AttainableAttainable GoalsGoals
– Is your goal likely (or even possible) toIs your goal likely (or even possible) to
achieve?achieve?
– Ex: Theo Epstein & the CubsEx: Theo Epstein & the Cubs
Rebuilding vs. Competing for aRebuilding vs. Competing for a
ChampionshipChampionship
– Other examples?Other examples?
Perhaps more relevant toPerhaps more relevant to
our own goals…our own goals…
My example: FinancesMy example: Finances
SMSMAARTRT

17. SMSMAARTRT
It’s good to set high goalsIt’s good to set high goals
– But it’s equally important to realizeBut it’s equally important to realize
when a goal might be TOO highwhen a goal might be TOO high
Don’t set yourself up for failureDon’t set yourself up for failure
Don’t get discouraged if you failDon’t get discouraged if you fail
Adjust accordingly when setting your NEXTAdjust accordingly when setting your NEXT
goals.goals.
– Think back to our fitness goalsThink back to our fitness goals
VS.VS.

18. RelevantRelevant GoalsGoals
– Who thinks they know what I mean byWho thinks they know what I mean by
settingsetting relevantrelevant goals?goals?
In other words, a relevant goal should beIn other words, a relevant goal should be
______(fill in the blank)(fill in the blank)______
DifficultDifficult
UsefulUseful
PrioritizedPrioritized
Meaningful*Meaningful*
Appropriate*Appropriate*
SMASMARRTT

19. Let’s talk a little more aboutLet’s talk a little more about
RelevancyRelevancy
What does it actually mean for yourWhat does it actually mean for your
goals to begoals to be meaningfulmeaningful oror
appropriateappropriate??
Remember our lists with our tenRemember our lists with our ten
most important values?most important values?
– Compare those lists to your short-,Compare those lists to your short-,
medium-, and long-term goalsmedium-, and long-term goals
– Are your efforts consistent with yourAre your efforts consistent with your
values and priorities??values and priorities??

20. Time-boundTime-bound goalsgoals
– Do you think it’s a good thing to haveDo you think it’s a good thing to have
more short-term goals, long-term goals,more short-term goals, long-term goals,
or both?or both?
– Why?Why?
What do you think the key is to notWhat do you think the key is to not
becoming overwhelmed by your long-becoming overwhelmed by your long-
term goals?term goals?
SMARSMARTT

21. SMARSMARTT
Turning your long-term goals intoTurning your long-term goals into
multiplemultiple short-term goalsshort-term goals
– Making a down payment on a houseMaking a down payment on a house
– Earning a Ph.D. in psychologyEarning a Ph.D. in psychology
– Running a marathonRunning a marathon
Set a SMART “first step” goalSet a SMART “first step” goal
– Increase the likelihood for successIncrease the likelihood for success

22. Of course, there is one big problemOf course, there is one big problem
with time:with time:
– We usually don’t have it!We usually don’t have it!
Which is why I will include one moreWhich is why I will include one more
topic for us to think about intopic for us to think about in
tonight’s seminar…tonight’s seminar…
SMARSMARTT
PROCRASTINATIONPROCRASTINATION

23. ProcrastinationProcrastination
Truthfully, this is a larger problem withTruthfully, this is a larger problem with
my college studentsmy college students
– But many people continue to struggle withBut many people continue to struggle with
procrastination throughout life*procrastination throughout life*
““Sometimes feel like I don’t have theSometimes feel like I don’t have the
time, but in reality I often do not usetime, but in reality I often do not use
the time I have.” -the time I have.” - MeMe
*Anyone in here still have to finish their taxes? Don’t raise your hands*Anyone in here still have to finish their taxes? Don’t raise your hands

24. Combating procrastinationCombating procrastination
1.1. Stop WorryingStop Worrying
2.2. Start SmallStart Small
3.3. Count the CostCount the Cost
4.4. Look for hidden rewardsLook for hidden rewards
5.5. Take responsibility for each delayTake responsibility for each delay
6.6. Finish thingsFinish things
Davis, Eshelman, & McKay, 2008Davis, Eshelman, & McKay, 2008

25. Goal Setting 101:Goal Setting 101:
Creating an action planCreating an action plan
Think it out andThink it out and
write it downwrite it down
Describe theDescribe the
resourcesresources
(including time)(including time)
you will need toyou will need to
achieve your goalachieve your goal
Document theDocument the
steps you will takesteps you will take
How will youHow will you
monitor yourmonitor your
progress?progress?
Anticipate reasonsAnticipate reasons
you mayyou may
procrastinateprocrastinate
How will youHow will you
reward yourself forreward yourself for
doing well?doing well?

26. And one final tipAnd one final tip
When setting your S-M-A-R-T goals…When setting your S-M-A-R-T goals…
Share them!
“Happiness (is) only real when shared.”
- Christopher McCandless

27. Questions?Questions?
Specific
Measureable
Attainable
Relevant
Time-bound