Humans have embraced acronyms and mnemonic devices (learning techniques that aid information retention) for millennia, the earliest use of which dates back to the ancient Greeks. Like many gifts from the Greeks, we still use mnemonic acronyms today. Think back to school, do you remember learning the colors of the rainbow? How about, Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain?
In 1981, a pioneering businessman named George Doran changed the way we think about goal setting by introducing the SMART approach in the journal of Business Management. Since then, the SMART approach has transcended business to countless other professions and personal uses.
Setting SMART goals is a fundamental tool in professional coaching. Many people have vague or abstract ideas of what they want to achieve; happiness is a common goal, but without setting SMART goals, reaching that vision becomes a long, arduous task. As coaches, it is our role to help clients set SMART goals in order to reach their vision of happiness.
In the videos below, our founder - Marilyn Atkinson, talks about each aspect of the SMART approach in a coaching context. These videos give you a clear insight into what SMART goals are, and why they are important. Creating goals that fit all these criteria may seem arbitrary at first, but after using the approach a few times, we guarantee that you won't want to set goals without them!
We hope that you enjoyed the videos as much as we enjoyed making them for you. If you are serious about helping clients reach their vision, then you're probably going to want to have a look at The Art & Science of Coaching. In as early as Module I, you will learn how to fully utilize SMART goal setting to serve your clients and achieve coaching success!