Putting the "Smart" Back in SMART Goals
Reclaiming Your Success: The Power of SMARTF3 Goals
As we embrace the new year let’s talk about setting goals that stick. We’re all familiar with the SMART criteria, but have you heard about the SMARTF3. Let's delve into the essence that transforms goals from mere intentions into impactful results.
81% of People Fail to Achieve Goals°
3 Reasons Why SMART Goals Often Miss the Mark
SMART goals are structured as Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound objectives, providing clear and realistic targets for efficient and effective goal setting. While they provide a powerful framework, they tend to fail more often than not.
Lack of Commitment: Without firm commitment, goals remain mere wishes, lacking the dedication necessary to bring them to life.
Lack of Clarity: A lack of clarity turns goals into a foggy path, where direction and purpose are obscured, hindering progress.
Lack of Momentum: Absent momentum, goals lose their forward thrust, becoming vulnerable to stagnation and the pull of distraction.
Enhancing SMART goals
In setting goals, especially SMART ones, it's crucial to go beyond the basics of structure and practicality. To truly bring your goals to life and ensure they resonate with your deepest motivations, we delve into three pivotal aspects: The Reason, The Feeling, and The First 3 Actions. These elements act as the soul, spirit, and steps that transform your goals from mere plans into powerful, personal missions.
The Reason
The fuel to your goal-setting fire is the significance it holds in your life. When the reason is strong, the difficult days become mere pauses, not full stops.
The Feeling
Goals should not just be a thought but a sensation. Visualize the triumph, the cheer, and the change - let the emotion of success be your guide.
The First 3 Actions
Break down your plan into immediate, actionable steps. These initial moves should be SMART themselves, propelling you forward with precision and purpose.
The beauty of these three ingredients is that they align with our triune brain’s checkpoints and flow:
Reason appeases the Cognitive brain.
Feeling resonates with the Emotional brain.
First 3 Actions reassures the instinctual Reptilian brain.
When each part of our brain is engaged, resistance dwindles, and progress becomes a seamless journey.
Introducing SMARTF3
We enhanced the SMART Goal framework to include the missing three key ingredients, Reason Feeling, & First 3 Actions.
S: Be specific, define your goal with precision.
M: Make it Measurable. If you can't measure it, you can't manage it.
A: Aim for Achievable. Your goal should stretch your abilities but remain within reach.
R: Root it in Relevance and Reason.
Relevance:
Reason: Why is this goal meaningful to you right now?
T: Time-bound it with a clear deadline.
F: Fuel it with Feeling. Envision the success and the emotion that comes with it.
3 Action Steps: Kickstart your journey by planning the first three steps. This isn't about having the entire road mapped out but knowing the immediate turns to take.
SMARTF3 In Action
Specific: I want to improve my fitness by improving my strength and stamina by joining a gym and working out regularly.
Measurable: I will track my progress by aiming to attend gym sessions three times a week for one hour each session.
Achievable: This goal is realistic given my current schedule and health status.
Relevance & Reason
Relevant: Improving my fitness is important for my overall health and well-being.
Reason: My motivation for getting fit is to feel more energetic in my daily life and to build a stronger, healthier body, reducing the risk of health issues related to inactivity.
Time-bound: I aim to maintain this routine consistently for the next six months.
ADDING F3
The Feeling: I envision the sense of accomplishment and confidence I will feel with each completed workout, the increased energy levels, and the positive changes in my physical appearance and health. e.g. I have more energy every evening to actively engage with family or feel amazing as I receive compliments from my social circle or excited about shopping because I've dropped sizes etc. We need to visualise it.
The First 3 Actions:
Research and select a gym that is convenient and well-equipped and sign up for membership within the next week.
Purchase necessary workout gear, including supportive shoes and comfortable exercise clothing.
Schedule my workouts by blocking out time on my calendar for gym sessions, starting next week.
By setting a SMART goal enhanced with F3, you create a goal that is not only clear and practical but also deeply connected to your personal motivations and emotions, with immediate steps to kickstart your journey towards fitness.
As we step into this year, let's rewrite our goal-setting strategy. Integrate reason, initiate with actionable steps, and imbue your goals with emotion. This isn't just about setting goals; it’s about setting ourselves up for a year of meaningful accomplishments.
We look forward to hearing your upgraded SMART goals in the comments box below.