One of the main responsibilities of a good leader is to formulate, brand and communicate the objectives of a project to the rest of the team. But, are these well-formulated objectives? Many times, this step can make the difference between reaching your goal or failing miserably.
We present you the SMART method, it’s worth to know and apply it to your projects.
S (SPECIFIC)
Objectives must be as specific and detailed as possible. Your team must understand, without ambiguity, what must be aimed for.
M (MEASURABLE)
Every objective must be measurable, you have to set measuring parameters for your team so they can evaluate if they are on the right track to attain the objective you have set for them and when they have reached their goal.
A (ATTAINABLE)
Before you formulate your objectives, you must find evidence that makes you believe that your goals are achievable. If you believe your team won’t be able to accomplish the objectives you set for them, it is very likely they won’t, and this is what we call a self-attained prophecy.
R (REALISTIC)
Even if a goal is attainable, it doesn’t mean it’s realistic. It is important to measure the strength of your team, to be aware of the resources available and the resources needed to conquer the goal.
T ( Time-bound)
The objective must have a timeline, every task that escapes the timetable is left behind and never gets done, isn’t it the case? It is also a good idea that the schedule marks temporary milestones towards the objective. This means that if your objective has to be completed in a year, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to keep an eye on your progress and take corrective actions at your milestones if you are drifting away from your goal.