How to Improve Productivity With Goal Setting

Research suggests that individuals can achieve an improvement in work performance by as much as 20-25% simply by goal setting.

Does that statement make you want to read further? If this type of return on investment was the next big deal on Wall Street, I would have everyone’s attention.

Goal setting is not a new concept yet surprisingly, it is often ignored or forgotten. In this post, I’ll go over the concept of the S.M.A.R.T goal and how it can help you achieve a higher level of productivity.

Setting Goals and Resolutions

A few days ago I gave a presentation to a local association on goal setting. Most of the individuals who attended the presentation were well-educated, experienced working professionals who were considered very successful. After opening my presentation I asked the audience to raise their hands if they had set goals or resolutions for the New Year. About 60% raised their hands. My next question was “How many of you remember your goals and resolutions?” The hands came down to only a few.

Goal setting is basic in the overall realm of personal and organizational performance improvement. Anyone who wants to take the time can easily do it. With just a little information and a little time spent learning about the power of goal setting, you can significantly improve productivity and performance in your own personal and professional life.

During my presentation, I was so shocked to see people writing like crazy to capture everything I was saying as if I were offering them the secret to life. I’ve rarely seen an audience so enthralled with the information I was presenting, especially as I began to share with participants the concept of a SMART goal.

After seeing the value this audience received from learning about goal setting, I thought I would share this small piece of it with you – the SMART Goal.

S.M.A.R.T Goal Setting

This type of goal is a set of criteria that will help you define what specifically it is you want to achieve. It contains the following criteria:

Specific – Is the goal clear and well defined?

Measurable – Is the change or intended outcome measurable?

Action-oriented – Does the goal require actionable behavior?

Realistic – Can the goal be reasonably achieved?

Time-bound – Do you have a deadline for completion?

Having a goal is good, but having a “SMART” goal is even better. By using the SMART criteria and putting your goal setting objectives on paper, you will significantly improve your performance and productivity – maybe even by as much as 25%

Man is a goal seeking animal. His life only has meaning if he is reaching out and striving for his goals.– Aristotle