| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
Goal Setting or How Being SMART Isnt Always the Right Objective
Over the years much has been written on the subject of goal setting with most conventional wisdom coming down in favour of the SMART objective setting process. SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timebound) has been around since the 1960's and is used by organisations to create effective objectives for themselves and their staff. In fact the SMART objective setting process is taught on many management training programs as the right way to set objectives in any situation. There is, however, a slight failing with the whole idea around SMART objectives which is, to be fair, not a problem with the process but the wider context in which goals are set. All too often organisations set objectives for their staff only to find that in the final analysis that very few have been achieved or even attempted. So, what is the problem with this approach to objectives, and why do they so often fail to capture the imagination of employees? The SMART model is missing two very important elements that will nearly always sabotage the take up of any objectives. WII-FM Often when organisations impose objectives on their staff the initial question that will be raised is 'What's In It For Me?' and in fact this is a perfectly valid question. A goal or objective whether at the corporate or personal level must be something that is a personal objective. It needs to be initiated, understood and bought-in to the individual for whom it is a goal. High level corporate objectives by their very nature are impersonal and as such there is rarely significant buy in from employees. Even objectives that are tied in to personal rewards (such as a bonus) do not have a high buy in factor if they are too impersonal. There needs to be a sense of 'I can make a difference to this' at a personal level for it to really be taken up by staff. It can be often be difficult with corporate objectives around profitability and growth to make these personal, and rightly so. These are corporate, high level objectives and unless an individual is tied in to them in some way (as a shareholder for example) then any attempt to cascade these down to lower levels will fail. The WII-FM issue is for the most part the highest motivator for an individual and a truly effective goal setting strategy takes this into account. Fascinating Captain The other and equally important theme missing from the SMART objective setting process is that of interest. For a goal to be really effective and attained it needs to be interesting, exciting and something the individual can get passionate about. Too many goals, especially corporate ones, are lacking in the area of being interesting. For example, an objective on quality will only be pursued by someone who believes that quality is of interest, for those people who believe it to be important (but not interesting) they will try to ensure that the quality doesn't drop but it is unlikely that they will go out of their way to ensure quality improves. Interest in a subject can be generated through corporate reward, however it is rare that this happens as, like the personal side of objective setting, it is outsise the SMART model. PRISM - the lighter side of objective setting The SMART model is good and has served for a long time, however in todays modern society, with vast tranches of the working population becoming dissatisfied with their lot a new approach to coporate oblective setting is required. The PRISM model covers all 5 points of the old SMART process and adds 2 more. PRISM is an acronym for Personal, Realistic, Interesting, Specific and Measurable. Does this mean that PRISM objectives are not Achievable and Timebound? Not at all, in the PRISM model for an objective to be truly Realistic by definition it has to be Achievable, if it is not achievable then it isn't and could never really be realistic. As for the time element of the objective this is covered by measurable. In a science experiment for something to be measurable it needs a start and an end, in life the same applies, if an objective is to be measured it has to be measured against time as well as any other measure, so in the PRISM model Measurable means against all criteria and not splitting out the time elements. It's all Me, Me, Me The PRISM model doesn't profess to be the ultimate solution for corporate goal setting woes however the addition of the personal and interest features into the process will add new dimension to the objective setting process and will guarantee that the objective has a considerably higher take up than those set with the SMART model. Corporate goals do not have to be faceless and force fed onto the workforce, by making any objective Personal to the individual and of Interest (with or without reward) then your chances of actually attaining it will dramatically increase. So, next time there is a strategy session and the subject of goals appears, just ask yourself 2 questions, 'What does it do for me?' and 'Just how interested am I in this?', if you can't answer those then perhaps, just perhaps, you need to rethink your goals. More information regarding staff performance, the PRISM© Goal Setting System and additional tools for improving organisational management can be found at http://www.achievinggreatness.co.uk L Stuart Avery 2005 © Achieving Greatness Ltd. All rights reserved. ----- PERMISSION TO REPUBLISH: This article may be republished in newsletters and on web sites provided attribution is provided to the author, and it appears with the included copyright, resource box and live web site link. L Stuart Avery is the Managing Director of Achieving Greatness Ltd, an organisation dedicated to raising awareness around personal and management behaviours. Achieving Greatness specialises in offering advice and support to organisations going through change intitiatives and looking to enhance the performance of their staff. It provides training courses, facilitiation services and coaching to business leaders on Leadership, Management and Strategy. Stuart has over 20 years of experience across a wide range of industries including Government, Charities, Retail, Travel, Insurance, IT Services and Logistics. For more information visit http://www.achievinggreatness.co.uk
MORE RESOURCES:
Dumbbell Routines & Exercises eBook - Click HereIncrease Your Muscle Size And Improve Your Physical Fitness In 90 Days Or You Get To Keep This Breakthrough eBook FREE! "Dumbbell Exercises and Lifting Routines To Help You Gain More Muscle, Lose Weight, or Just Get Yourself in Better Physical Shape... WITHOUT the Hassles, and Expenses of Health Clubs" "Instant Access to An Illustrated, PDF Ebook That Will Give YOU The Routines You Need To Get In Better Shape in 90 Days or less - Or Your Money Back!" Get the scoop here.
Serious Fitness Supplements - Muscle Builders
Jacked Up Xenomine
A step-by-step guide that teaches you the secrets, tips, and techniques you need to know to build a chiseled, muscular, ripped, head-turning physique...FAST! The "Hyper-Growth Muscle Mass Training" course is an extremely effective natural human growth hormone stimulator and packs on slabs of muscle mass, size and enourages hypertrophy faster than you would've ever thought possible...while burning off body fat like crazy! Highly recommended! Click Here For Maximum Muscle Growth
Fitness-and-Muscle.com Site Navigation Home Page | Muscle Fitness Magazine | Muscle Fitness Hers | Fitness Supplements | Muscle Supplements | Fitness Muscle Equipment | Muscle Building | Fitness Competition | Muscle Compeititon | Arm Muscles | Home Fitness Workout | Huge Muscles | Muscle Building Workout | Fitness Muscle DVDs | Fitness Accessories | Fitness Dating | Muscle Fitness Articles | Muscle Links | Contact Us |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Everyone Needs a BAG (Big Audacious Goal) A Big Audacious Goal (BAG) is a clear and compelling catalyst that serves as a focal point for effort. Unlike smaller goals, the BAG is something that is huge. Stop Setting Goals; Make Decisions Instead Every private client I work with begins at the same place. They first paint a clear picture of their goals, from the future back to today. How To Rise Above The Clutter In Your Brain Ever notice when you start a new hobby or fall in love with a new shrub or flower you start to see it everywhere? This isn't necessarily because everyone else has the same new hobby it's because you have the flower or shrub or hobby at the top of your mind.You are focused on it, thinking about how much you enjoy it and you end up noticing it when you never did before. The Future: Help is Available How important do you believe it is to think about and visualize your future life?How important would it be to you if your cab driver wandered all over town, never getting anywhere but using up all your money and time?If you have no intention, or goal, one thing is absolutely sure. You will never get there. What Words Will They Chisel Into Your Tombstone? One day you will inevitably die. A morbid statement, I know, but one that is true. Action Achieves Goals - Talk Is Cheap It is very easy and a lot of fun to talk about dreams and goals and a great future. Achieving these dreams is not so easy as all wise people know. Show Me The Money For many people, money is like the weather - they talk about it, but don't do anything about it. But making more money is not just about working longer hours or working harder. Obtaining Your Desires For one to achieve their goals or obtain their desires, one must know their goals and desires in the first place. The simple task of writing down a list of the things you wish for has an amazing effect on the results of your wishes. Prerequisite Qualities For Optimum Goal Setting The minute you set a goal, you are creating a 'mini crisis' in your mind. You're telling your mind about a journey you are considering. One Single Secret to Goal Setting Success Perhaps you have never taken a stock of the most valuable and precious wealth of yours. Every person possesses it since the day of birth. Do You Really Value What You Wish For? I am sitting in a shopping mall, waiting for my wife to finish her Christmas shopping. Next to me is a rather pathetic-looking fountain, which contains hundreds of coins, mostly thrown in by children of irate shoppers. The Twin Actions of Accomplishment When it comes to achieving accomplishments there are two foundational actions that must take place. When these two actions take place, and take place in the right order, you will become unstoppable. Struggling to Make a Decision? Every great success story begins when a person makes a decision to do something or not to do something. They make a clear decision to make a significant change. Simple Ways to Super-Charge Your Goals and Make Them Work! Goals. Most people have a love-hate relationship with goals. Keep Your Attention On What You Want Have you ever wondered: "How does this 'Law of Attraction' really work? Can I really attract only what I want?"You Can! It requires you to make many conscious choices. Most of the time it seems much easier to notice what we don't like or want and to focus by complaining about that. Ask yourself, So what? Neil Armstrong made his first moon walk on July 20, 1969, two months before I entered college. I remember that many Americans were euphoric about this accomplishment. Why Do Many Smart, Motivated People Never Achieve Their Goals? In his multimedia "Unleash Your Greatness Success System" Mike Litman gives his audience a virtual "kick in the butt" - albeit nicely. In this program he pushes hard to get the reader past their desire for "feel good" motivation; instead he offers a plan that, if followed, should result in the listener making strides towards achieving his or her goals. Achieving Goals: The Remaining 90% - Sheer Persistence Achieving goals requires persistence. Here's the proof: In 1915 Ty Cobb set up an amazing baseball record of stealing 96 bases. Goal-Mapping Goal-mapping is like a treasure hunt, you must first start out by knowing what you are looking for. Be very specific on what you want without limiting yourself. If I Won the Lottery, I Wouldnt Have to Job Search! IF I WON THE LOTTERY, IWOULDN'T NEED TO JOB SEARCH!Let's take a look at how many people win lotteries in a year's time. We all know the numbers are small.
|
"A Completely Different Approach To Bodybuilding That Can Build Your Physique To Its Maximum Genetic Potential!"