The Seven Criteria of a Successful Goal

For some time now I have been trying to determine what the needed criteria of a good goal would consist of. Last night the topic of my institute class was about goal setting so I was able to think more about this and formulate my thought process. Similar to the repentance process I kept hearing a list of criteria but there always seemed to be something missing or there was inconsistency or overlap between ideas. I am going to start by describing how the SMART goal is not good enough in my view and what should replace it.

The SMART goal:

Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Realistic
Timely

The terms specific and measurable seem to be very close. Specific seems to imply details; this is important for a goal. Measurable is also an important aspect of a goal. Similarly the terms attainable and realistic are very close. Both of them seem vague and I would put them under specific. What may be attainable to one person may not be attainable for another person and therefor not realistic. Timely or time bound is an important aspect of a goal.

One thing that a SMART goal lacks is a support system or possibly someone to report to. When I realized that this is an important aspect of setting a goal it made me think of the repentance process. So I formulated my goal criteria based on that process as well as others.

The Seven Criteria of a Successful Goal:

1) Plan
2) Value
3) Commitment
4) Support
5) Time
6) Measure
7) Reward

A great goal needs to have a detailed plan. "For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?" Once you recognize that the goal is needed you must make a plan in order for it to succeed. With a detailed plan the SMART criteria would all be addressed as well as the remaining components listed here.

A great goal needs to have value, it needs to be worthwhile. This goes back to the idea of climbing a latter leaning up against the wrong building. If it is a worthless goal then even if you accomplish it you may regret the waste of time spent on it. "Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy."

It needs to have commitment. If you are not committed enough to remove the obstacles to the goal then it will not last. Sometimes money is used to set the commitment to a higher level. A heightened commitment increases the diligence in carrying out the goal.

Support may be through a person or a system. You need to report to someone or something in order to be accountable. If you feel no responsibility for the goal it will slip through the cracks. Accountability and responsibility enforces and enables your commitment.

There needs to be a time schedule to the goal. If the goal is indefinite - repeating daily, weekly or yearly - it needs to have check in points to reassess the effectiveness of the plan. Likewise, if it is a long term goal it needs intermediate, short term and possibly daily check in points or tasks to ensure the success.

The measure of a goal determines the progression and the conclusion. You can gauge how close you are and compare it to the remaining time. If you do not know when it is done you do not have an effective goal. Even a repeating goal needs a measure to compare against. The measure enforces the value.

A reward may be as simple as the satisfaction of completing the task. But, it may be the motivating factor. It gives focus to the end. Lack of reward reduces the likelihood of repeating the goal or even completing the goal. On the opposite note the reward must not be granted if the goal is not completed. A reward may improve the likelihood of raising the bar - a higher bar merits a higher reward.