SMARTY goals - try adding a 'Y' for YOU
It can also stand for 'whY'...
January’s a big time for goals and it’s very likely you’ve heard of SMART goals.
The words change a little depending on who defines them, but the idea is every goal you set has to fit SMART: Specific - Measurable - Achievable/Attainable - Realistic/Relevant - Time-bound/sensitive.
It’s all very… tangible. Very… structured. And rightly so - that’s how it works, in my experience. You niche into the details of the goal, the steps you’ll need to take, the training, skills and support you might need. How long it all might take.
But there’s one thing that it misses out: The feels. I think it’s time to add a Y to SMART - for YOU. Here’s why.
Goals aren’t just head-led. They’re very heart-led. So many of my goals in my career have been about the feelings, whether that’s writing a book or being a columnist. They’ve been about the kudos, the ‘look at me!’ the excitement of success and being ‘someone’ in my industry.
Yes, my career as a journalist has been about the goals of working for a particular brand or securing a commission with a certain publication, but they’ve also always been about the thrill of that, and the emotions attached to the physical success, which can range from pride to joy. Goals tie into values - that’s where the Y comes in.
As a coach, feelings come up all the time. For me, as I work on my business, and also for clients. They want to achieve the tangible things but often it’s about wanting to feel different, to be in a different headspace, or shift their mindset.
So when you think about a goal, I’d urge you to think, of course, about the outcome, the idea, the plan and the execution of it all, but also to think about the way you want to feel.
The ‘Y’ can also stand for ‘WHY’ - the ‘why’ of your goal. Why are you working towards this new thing? Is it about security, being challenged, a different future, family…
Maybe the goal is to get a new job, and the ‘why’ is so you can move house, and feel secure. Maybe the goal is to go freelance, so you can feel free from a job or role you don’t like anymore.
Perhaps it’s about training - you want to re-train and the goal is to do a course. Do you also want to feel clever, informed…
You get the idea.
So, when you’re setting goals, think about that Y.
Jenny x
If you want help with working out your why, and the feelings around your goals, well, you know what to do. Give me a shout and we can chat about how coaching can help you work on your goals - on your terms.
UPCOMING WORKSHOPS
Finesse your freelance CV - 30th Jan, 12.00
Job Hunting and CV confidence - 1st Feb, 14.00
LinkedIn confidence for freelance Journos (two workshops, one lunchtime one evening)
Instagram confidence for freelance journos - 13th Feb, 12.00
LinkedIn confidence for freelance PRs - 24th Feb, 18.00
P.S Did you take part in the 2016 trend on Instagram? I gave it a career lessons spin (of course!)
I love the idea of adding a Y (or Why) to goal setting. Thank you. 😊