Have you ever set a goal that seemed to drift away from your core values over time?
Ever found yourself working on something that doesn’t align with your long-term objectives?
If so, you’re not alone.
This is where SMART goals come in. SMART is a powerful framework that helps us set meaningful and achievable goals, both in our professional lives and personal journeys.
In this article, we’ll dive into the “R” of SMART, which stands for “Relevant.”
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What Is “Relevant” in SMART Goals
“Relevant” in SMART goals is about setting targets that resonate with your ambitions, values, and long-term objectives.
Setting relevant goals ensures that you’re not wasting time on something that won’t move you forward or that you’re not genuinely interested in. It’s a way to make sure that every effort you put into achieving a goal is a step in the right direction for your broader objectives or personal development.
Let’s illustrate this with an example.
Let’s say you’re passionate about fitness and want to run a marathon someday. A relevant goal would be to increase your running distance by a mile each week.
On the other hand, setting a goal to improve your 100-meter sprint time is not relevant to achieving your goal. While sprinting is a form of running, it focuses on short bursts of speed and power, which is very different from the sustained endurance required for a marathon, thus, it won’t help you become a better marathon runner.
Do you see the difference?
Now, let’s look at the other side of relevancy in goal-setting. For a goal to be relevant, it needs to be personal and meaningful in your life. Continuing with our example, running a marathon may not be a relevant goal if you don’t actually enjoy long-distance running, and something shorter like a 5K could be better suited for you.
In short, the “Relevant” criterion in SMART goals ensures that the goals you set are meaningful to you and contribute to your overarching objectives. It acts as a filter, helping you prioritize efforts that will bring the most value and fulfillment in the context of your broader aspirations.
How To Set Relevant Goals
Setting relevant goals is a cornerstone of effective planning and achieving success. A relevant goal is not just about ticking off a task on a to-do list; it’s about ensuring that every step you take is a stride toward your broader objectives.
Ensuring that a goal is relevant will directly contribute to successful results and help you achieve your goals more efficiently. To ensure your goals are relevant, consider the following questions:
- Does this goal seem worthwhile? Before investing your time, energy, and resources into a goal, it’s crucial to determine its worth. A goal that feels worthwhile will be more motivating and easier to commit to. Ask yourself if achieving this goal will bring you closer to your long-term objectives. Ensure that it matters to you personally and aligns with other relevant goals you’ve set for yourself.
- Is this the right time? Timing can be everything. Consider if now is the optimal time to pursue this goal. Do you have the necessary resources, energy, and focus? Are there other pressing commitments or life events that might hinder your progress? Setting a goal during a period when you can give it your full attention increases its chances of success.
- Does it reflect my/our other efforts/needs? Your goals should be in harmony with your other endeavors and requirements. If you’re setting a goal in a professional context, does it align with the company’s broader objectives? In a personal setting, does the goal complement other areas of your life, or could it potentially conflict with them?
- Am I the right person to reach this goal? While it’s essential to challenge oneself, it’s equally important to recognize if you’re the best fit for a particular goal. Do you have the necessary skills, knowledge, or resources? If not, are you willing and able to acquire them? Sometimes, it might be more effective to delegate a goal to someone better suited or to collaborate with others.
- Is this an appropriate goal for the current social and economic environment? The world around us is constantly evolving. Economic shifts, societal changes, and global events can all impact the viability and relevance of a goal. It’s essential to assess if your goal is suitable for the current climate. For instance, starting a travel-based business during a global pandemic might not be the most relevant goal.
Setting relevant goals requires introspection, foresight, and a clear understanding of your broader objectives and the environment. By ensuring your goals are relevant, you optimize your efforts, making every step count toward achieving your aspirations.
Examples of Relevant Goals
Now that we understand what goals can be considered relevant, let’s look at examples is various life categories:
- Career: Secure a managerial position in my company within the next three years by taking on more leadership roles and attending leadership training seminars.
- Education: Complete a Master’s degree in Environmental Science within the next two years to enhance my expertise and contribute more effectively to sustainable initiatives at work.
- Health & Fitness: Lose 20 pounds over the next six months by adopting a balanced diet and incorporating a consistent exercise routine of at least 4 days a week.
- Personal Development: Read one self-improvement book per month for a year to gain new perspectives and improve my interpersonal skills.
- Financial: Save $10,000 for a down payment on a house by setting aside 15% of my monthly income for the next two years.
- Relationships: Spend quality time with family by having at least one dedicated family day per week, free from work or other distractions.
- Hobbies & Skills: Learn to play the guitar proficiently by taking weekly lessons and practicing for 30 minutes daily over the next year.
- Travel: Visit three new countries in the next two years to experience different cultures and broaden my horizons.
- Community & Volunteering: Dedicate 50 hours over the next year to volunteer at the local food bank, helping to organize and distribute food.
- Environment: Reduce my carbon footprint by 20% in the next year by using public transportation more often, reducing meat consumption, and implementing energy-saving measures at home.
Each of these goals is relevant within its category, aligning with broader objectives and values that a person might have in that particular area of life.
Conclusion
Setting goals is an important part of personal and professional growth. However, the mere act of setting a goal isn’t enough; it’s the relevance of these goals that determines whether they are effective and bring any value to our lives.
By setting relevant goals, we can stay motivated, focused, and on track, moving directly toward our desired destination.
So, whether you’re charting a career path, planning personal growth, or setting milestones in any other domain, always ask yourself, “Is this goal relevant to my bigger picture?” Asking this question will help you find purpose in every step, making the journey as fulfilling as the destination.
