Setting (and reaching)Setting (and reaching)S-M-A-R-T Goals S-M-A-R-T Goals

Ed HansenEd Hansen

09/18/1309/18/13

You can call me Ed…You can call me Ed…

(or Mr. Hansen, Mr. H, or even Mr. Ed if you (or Mr. Hansen, Mr. H, or even Mr. Ed if you prefer, but normally I just go by Ed)prefer, but normally I just go by Ed)

Before we get startedBefore we get started

Some introductions are requiredSome introductions are required

Let’s get to know each other Let’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 at What is your position here at XXXXXXXX, and how , and how long have you worked for this company?long have you worked for this company?

3.3. What do you enjoy doing for fun/in your What do you enjoy doing for fun/in your spare time?spare time?

4.4. What is What is YOUR GOAL YOUR GOAL in taking this seminar?in taking this seminar?

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 to Write TEN values that are important to

you in order from most to leastyou in order from most to leastSample (in alphabetical order)Sample (in alphabetical order)

Now put your list of values Now 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)

What got me interested in goals What got me interested in goals in the first place?in the first place?

““Theories of Motivation” Theories of Motivation” – Taught by Dr. Joe Hatcher @ Ripon Taught by Dr. Joe Hatcher @ Ripon

CollegeCollegeMy undergraduate psychology advisorMy undergraduate psychology advisor

We had to choose a motivational goal We 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!

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 a But what makes a goal a GOODGOOD goal? goal?Let’s brainstorm a little together…Let’s brainstorm a little together…

Strength of goals being set Strength of goals being set depends on CONTEXTdepends on CONTEXT

Work related goals will be different than Work related goals will be different than personal goalspersonal goals

Ex: Businessdictionary.comEx: Businessdictionary.com– Goal: An observable and measurable end Goal: An observable and measurable end

result having one or more objectives to be result having one or more objectives to be achieved within a more or less fixed achieved within a more or less fixed timeframe.timeframe.

This definition is more specific, but is it This definition is more specific, but is it defining *SMART* goals? defining *SMART* goals?

S-M-A-R-T Goals S-M-A-R-T Goals If you enter SMART Goals as a search If you enter SMART Goals as a search term on Google…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

S-M-A-R-T Goals S-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 makes But it is widely accepted and also makes

the most sense the most sense to meto me– In truth, you can adopt any of these In truth, you can adopt any of these

SMART goal approaches and see successSMART goal approaches and see successThese goal setting approaches all have one These goal setting approaches all have one important thing in commonimportant thing in common

DATA!DATA!

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 came Businesses were at a loss when it came

to motivating its employeesto motivating its employees– No consistency in their approachesNo consistency in their approaches– No No datadata to support their techniques to support their techniques

After…we have DECADES worth of After…we have DECADES worth of datadata that tell a very specific story that tell a very specific story

Ed LockeEd Locke Gary LathamGary Latham

Setting goals – A pretestSetting goals – A pretest

Before I give you the SMART goal Before I give you the SMART goal guidelines, I’d like you to practiceguidelines, I’d like you to practice

– One short-term One short-term (Less than one month)(Less than one month)– One medium One medium (1 – 12 months)(1 – 12 months)– One long One long (More than a year)(More than a year)

We’ll evaluate how SMART our goals We’ll evaluate how SMART our goals really are as we goreally are as we go

S-M-A-R-T GoalsS-M-A-R-T Goals

SSpecificpecific

MMeasureableeasureable

AAttainablettainable

RRelevantelevant

TTime-boundime-bound

SSMARTMART

SpecificSpecific Goals Goals– Before Locke & LathamBefore Locke & Latham

Best practice was typically to use a Best practice was typically to use a “Do “Do your best” your best” goal…sounds nicegoal…sounds nice

What problems do you see with this What 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

MeasureableMeasureable Goals Goals– Most of the time, a specific goal is one Most of the time, a specific goal is one

that we can MEASUREthat we can MEASURERemember, 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 specific How can we make these goals specific AND measureable?AND measureable?

Fitness, Resolutions, Time managementFitness, Resolutions, Time management

SSMMARTART

Attainable Attainable GoalsGoals– Is your goal likely (or even possible) to Is your goal likely (or even possible) to

achieve?achieve?– Ex: Theo Epstein & the CubsEx: Theo Epstein & the Cubs

Rebuilding vs. Competing for a Rebuilding vs. Competing for a ChampionshipChampionship

– Other examples?Other examples?Perhaps more relevant toPerhaps more relevant toour own goals…our own goals…

My example: FinancesMy example: Finances

SMSMAARTRT

SMSMAARTRTIt’s good to set high goalsIt’s good to set high goals– But it’s equally important to realize But it’s equally important to realize

when a goal might be TOO highwhen a goal might be TOO highDon’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 NEXT Adjust accordingly when setting your NEXT goals.goals.

– Think back to our fitness goalsThink back to our fitness goals

VS.VS.

Relevant Relevant GoalsGoals– Who thinks they know what I mean by Who thinks they know what I mean by

setting setting relevant relevant goals?goals?In other words, a relevant goal should be In other words, a relevant goal should be

______(fill in the blank)(fill in the blank)______

DifficultDifficult

UsefulUseful

PrioritizedPrioritized

Meaningful*Meaningful*

Appropriate*Appropriate*

SMASMARRTT

Let’s talk a little more about Let’s talk a little more about RelevancyRelevancy

What does it actually mean for your What does it actually mean for your goals to be goals to be meaningfulmeaningful or or appropriateappropriate??

Remember our lists with our ten Remember 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 your Are your efforts consistent with your

values and priorities??values and priorities??

Time-boundTime-bound goals goals– Do you think it’s a good thing to have Do 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 not What do you think the key is to not becoming overwhelmed by your becoming overwhelmed by your long-term goals?long-term goals?

SMARSMARTT

SMARSMARTTTurning your long-term goals into Turning your long-term goals into multiplemultiple short-term goals short-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

Of course, there is one big problem Of 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 more Which is why I will include one more topic for us to think about in topic for us to think about in tonight’s seminar…tonight’s seminar…

SMARSMARTT

PROCRASTINATIONPROCRASTINATION

ProcrastinationProcrastination

Truthfully, this is a larger problem with Truthfully, this is a larger problem with my college studentsmy college students– But many people continue to struggle with But many people continue to struggle with

procrastination throughout life*procrastination throughout life*

““Sometimes feel like I don’t have the Sometimes feel like I don’t have the time, but in reality I often do not use time, 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

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

Goal Setting 101: Goal Setting 101: Creating an action planCreating an action plan

Think it out and Think it out and write it downwrite it down

Describe the Describe the resources resources (including time) (including time) you will need to you will need to achieve your goalachieve your goal

Document the Document the steps you will takesteps you will take

How will you How will you monitor your monitor your progress?progress?

Anticipate reasons Anticipate reasons you may you may procrastinateprocrastinate

How will you How will you reward yourself for reward yourself for doing well?doing well?

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

Questions?Questions?Specific

Measureable

Attainable

Relevant

Time-bound