We all want to be better, but what does "better" mean? When we set SPECIFIC goals, we give ourselves clear, discrete things to do. Being specific is essential to a good goal.
If we can't measure a goal, it's very hard to know whether we're making progress, much less whether we have achieved it or not. Make sure to include measurable elements in your goals.
One of the hardest things about setting a great goal is setting the right level of difficulty. You want to push yourself and your teams, but not too hard; you want to stretch yourselves, but not to the breaking point. So you want your goal to be challenging, but ACHIEVABLE--the "A" in SMART.
A SMART goal is "RELEVANT", meaning that it has a clear and coherent connection to success, whether it's for an individual, a team, or the organization. Sometimes, though, you need to craft a story to help people understand the relevance of a goal.
