Introducing SMART objectives
Featured in the Setting Objectives and Seeing Them Through training manual
By Beverley Williams
Category: Performance Management
Credit price: 3 download credits (Single user)
This training activity explains what SMART objectives are and why they are important. Objectives need to be Specific, Measurable, Agreed, Realistic and Time bound to ensure that everyone involved knows what is expected of them, the results they are expected to achieve, and the timescales involved. SMART objectives are challenging, and allow progress and success to be measured against pre-determined benchmarks. Many objectives are not SMART, and can cause confusion and resentment instead of providing motivation and direction. It’s important that everyone involved in agreeing, objectives understand the benefits of SMART and is able to set, or agree, SMART objectives.
You begin the session by telling participants that they will be looking at SMART objectives, what SMART means and why it’s important. Then you ask participants to contribute to defining SMART before covering the benefits of each point during a pairs exercise. Next, participants work in small groups to examine a non-SMART objective and think about the questions that need to be asked to clarify it. Then you run a pairs exercise where participants work on the non-SMART objective to bring it in line with SMART criteria. The exercise is designed to focus on SMART as a whole rather than on the agreement aspect and so will allow participants to develop the SMART objective without putting them in the position of having to resolve agreement difficulties at this stage. You take feedback and objectives from each pair. You conclude by discussing key learning points with participants before distributing and covering the key learning points handout, picking up on any points already raised by the participants.
Who is it for: This training resource is intended for use by trainers to enable participants to get to know SMART objectives and to understand the value of applying SMART when agreeing objectives.
| Resource Type: | Activity |
| Min Group Size: | 4 |
| Max Group Size: | 10 |
| Typical Duration: | 02:00:00 |
| No of Pages: | 18 |
Resources: View standard resources for Fenman training activities
Purpose: This training resource is intended for use by trainers with participants who are involved in the objective-setting process and have an understanding of the broad topic of objective setting (see ‘Objectives: what they are and why they exist’). While this is of particular importance to line managers, all other members of staff will be able to contribute more fully to the objective-setting process if they have worked through the training activity.
Download the training activity, Introducing SMART objectives as featured in the Fenman training manual; Setting Objectives and Seeing Them Through