In a previous blog we looked at Why Targets Are Often Not Effective
This was hopefully interesting stuff but more important is how to set effective targets. If you read the management books they will tell you that targets should be SMART, standing for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant & Time Based. There is nothing wrong with this but it is a means creating achievable targets not effective ones. In order to be effective we need to be SMART 1 & SMART 2. The SMART 2 targets above should be flexible and there should be no reason why they cannot be revised or even abandoned but SMART 1, that’s different.
Before we worry about Specific etc etc we must remember that to be effective we must only be doing things that help us achieve our objective and so SMART 1 must come before SMART 2.
SMART 1 is as follows:
Sort out and fully understand the objective
Make sure this is communicated to everyone
Assume responsibility for meeting the objective
Resources – ensure that you have the resources organised to achieve the objective
Targets – set targets to ensure you move toward the objective
Now you can make those targets SMART 2.
The problem with so many targets is that the target becomes the objective by default. Remember – the objective was to fly to the moon, the targets were based around building the spacecraft. Building a spacecraft was not the objective. If someone had come up with another way of getting into space and landing on the moon then SMART 2 targets could be abandoned or changed but SMART 1 (the objective) still remains.
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