SMARTER Goal Setting
From strategic planning to strategic execution.
Use SMARTER to turn a strategic priority into a clear, actionable goal—and keep it responsive to what you learn as the work unfolds.
- S · M · A · R · TDefine the goal and what success requires.
- EVALUATIONAssess progress and learn from the evidence.
- REALIGNMENTAdjust the plan and keep moving with purpose.
↺ Evaluate, realign, and continue
SMARTER stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound, Evaluation, and Realignment. It provides a framework for connecting what you intend to accomplish with how you will act, assess progress, and adapt.
The first five elements give a goal focus and structure. Evaluation and Realignment make it an ongoing strategic process: evidence informs the next decision, and leadership judgment turns that learning into action.
The seven elements of SMARTER
S — Specific
Define what will be achieved, who is involved, and where the work will happen. A specific goal gives people a shared understanding of the intended outcome and the scope of the work.
M — Measurable
Choose concrete criteria or key performance indicators to track progress. Establish what evidence will show that the goal is moving forward and what successful completion will look like.
A — Achievable
Set a goal that is realistic given your resources, capabilities, capacity, and constraints. Consider the strengths you can build on and the gaps you will need to address.
R — Relevant
Connect the goal to the program’s purpose and the organization’s broader objectives. Make clear why this work matters and how it contributes to the impact you want to create.
T — Time-bound
Give the goal a deadline or defined timeframe. Meaningful milestones help people coordinate their work, maintain momentum, and stay accountable along the way.
E — Evaluation
Regularly assess progress against the measures you established. Decide how and when performance will be reviewed so that evidence can reveal what is working, what is lagging, and what needs attention.
R — Realignment
Use evaluation findings to adjust the plan. Changes to resources, priorities, methods, or timing should respond to what you have learned and keep the work aligned with its intended purpose.
Start with the context
A useful goal grows out of a clear understanding of the work. Establish the program’s intent, the internal and external partners involved, and the expected impact on the organization, teams, individuals, and the people it serves.
SWOT analysis—Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats—can help identify priorities and constraints. SOAR—Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, and Results—can help connect existing strengths to a desired future. Either approach, or both together, can inform the scope, measures, resources, and timing of a SMARTER goal.
Keep the feedback loop open
Evaluation reveals what the evidence is telling you. Realignment puts that learning to work. Together, they help a goal remain useful as circumstances change and connect strategic planning with strategic execution.
Turn your priorities into progress.
Let’s discuss how SMARTER goal setting can support your leadership, your team, or your next strategic initiative.
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