SMART Goals – Time Sensitive

by smallbizbee · 13 comments

This is part five in our five part series looking at setting SMART goals. If you've missed part one , two, three, or four, you may want to take a moment to read through them.

The final step in the SMART goal process seems easy enough on the surface, but it should not be dismissed as such.

Deciding upon a time frame for each one of your SMART goals is not something to take lightly, and not all your goals will have the same time frames.

Depending on how aggressive or passive you are in setting the time parameters for each goal could be the defining factor in whether you achieve your goal, and how much impact it has on you, your company, or organization.

SMART Goals: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic & Time Sensitive

Today’s Focus: Time Sensitive

The "T" in the SMART goal process is described as many things. Timely, time sensitive, time dependent, or time frame. What you're asking yourself is "By when do I need to meet my objective to consider my goal achieved?"

Why Set A Time Frame?

Without a specific time frame by which to complete your goal it becomes much too easy to "get to it tomorrow". If you don't know exactly when something will need to get done, your goals will lack a sense of urgency, and I don't think I need to tell you how that will end. Without a deadline procrastination is liable to rear it's ugly head and keep you from achieving success.

How to Set a Time Frame

Some goals come prepackaged with natural time frames. Growing your sales, for example, lends itself well for a yearly time frame. Other goals are a little less straightforward.

Take for example a goal of attending 5 networking events in 2009. While you could put a yearly time frame on this, it still could lead to procrastination.

Goals such as this one work better if you give yourself deadlines to shoot for throughout the year. So your networking goal could have a time frame such as:

I will have attended

1 networking event by Feb 28
2 by April 31
3 by July 31
4 by Oct 31
5 by Dec 31

Tip: Break up your larger goals and give yourself deadlines throughout the year so that you know you are on the right track and making progress.

Be Realistic

Setting a timeline for completion of your goal also needs to be realistic given the nature of your goal and your personal circumstances.

Remember: Even the best and most attainable goals can be undermined by an unrealistic time frame!

You'll want to set a time frame that keeps you moving down the path to successfully completing the goal, while giving you adequate time to achieve it . This is a balancing act much like making sure your goals are realistic and attainable. You'll want to push yourself with an aggressive timeline, but not so much that you sabotage any chance you have of successfully completing the goal.

Tips for Success

Look for the natural time frames associated with your goals and use them first

Break down larger goals into smaller time frames to ensure you keep yourself moving towards completing your overall goal

Be realistic about what you can and can't accomplish in a given time frame

Don't be afraid to renegotiate a time frame for completion if you find that you were unrealistic in setting your deadline - BUT do not do this at the expense of your overall goal!

Summary

Hopefully you've found this refresher course helpful in your goal setting process. Remember your goals aren't SMART unless they are: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time Sensitive.

By using the SMART process you will be setting goals that are clear, concise, and well thought out. Above all, I think you will find that by using SMART goals your follow through and completion rate will increase and what you once thought of as a dream you'll find yourself achieving.

Here's to a happy, healthy and successful 2009!