SMART Goals
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What is SMART Goals (SMART)?
SMART is one of the most widely known goal-setting frameworks. The acronym stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Each criterion helps transform vague intentions into concrete, actionable goals that can be tracked and evaluated.
A SMART goal looks like: "Increase monthly active users by 30% within Q3." It's Specific (monthly active users), Measurable (30%), Achievable (based on current growth), Relevant (if user growth is a priority), and Time-bound (Q3). The framework is straightforward and easy to learn, making it popular in both personal and professional contexts.
The key difference between SMART goals and OKRs lies in ambition and structure. SMART goals emphasize achievability — goals should be realistic and 100% completable. OKRs, particularly aspirational ones, deliberately set targets beyond what seems achievable, with 60-70% completion considered a success. OKRs also add a hierarchical structure (Objectives contain Key Results) that SMART goals lack. Many practitioners find the two complementary: use SMART criteria to write better Key Results within the OKR framework.
Also known as: SMART criteria, SMART framework, SMART goal setting
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