Writing effective objectives will help you get results, give staff priorities and create a clear course of action to achieve your desired changes. Objectives are typically 1- to 3-year action statements. Following this goal formula will help keep your team on track and achieving.
Specific: A specific objective will easily be able to answer Who, What, When, Where and Where questions.
Measurable: Objectives must be written so that you are able to determine your progress towards the objective as time goes on.
Attainable: Objectives should be written in a way that you have to work to achieve them, but are able to accomplish given past experience, market conditions, or your expectations.
Responsible person:* Accountability motivates the person the goal is assigned to take action and get it done. Without a person leading the effort, group assignments can often fall into inactivity.
Time-Bound: Objectives need to have time restraints placed on them. This not only helps measuring progress towards the objective, but with the overall evaluation of your campaign.
* There is an ongoing debate about what the “R” in S.M.A.R.T. should stand for. “Realistic,” “Results-bound,” and “Relevant” are also popular choices.
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Even More Resources…
More resources on this and other topics are available from Reno-based M3 Planning, a strategic planing firm and the authors of “Planning For Dummies.”
Kaitlin Godbey
This was such a great help to the board. Thanks for writing this down! I am printing this out ASAP!