What are SMART goals?

“SMART” is an acronym or mnemonic – with each letter representing a characteristic of Doran’s approach. He believed goals should be:

1. Specific
   Contain well-defined central objectives
2. Measurable
   Have a quantifiable element to serve as an indicator of success
3. Assignable (now referred to as “attainable”)
   Have a designated person for the task or goal
4. Realistic (commonly referred to as “relevant”)
   Must work within the frame of an individual or group’scapabilities with consideration to time, resources and priorities
5. Time-related
   Have an established deadline for each goal

What is the difference between OKRs and SMART goals?

There are 3 distinct differences that set these goal setting approaches apart.

1. Depending on how a team or an individual chooses to define SMART goals, they can present fundamental differences from OKRs. SMART goals often have different interpretations depending on the individual or team using the approach. For example, “measurement” can be replaced by “motivation” or as noted previously, “assignable” for “attainable” or “realistic” as a substitution for “relevant.” And while OKRs are quite malleable and can be used for different types of environments and settings, the acronym will always mean “objectives and key results.” The quantifiable element of OKRs is the core aspect of the framework. With measurement as an aspect of SMART, on a surface-level, the concepts appear quite similar. However, if the “M” for example, were to be replaced with “mission” or “motivation,” the two approaches begin to contrast fundamentally given OKRs focus on measurement.
2. SMART goals solely craft the objective. OKRs connect key results to objectives for a more strategic appropriation of resources and time with key results at the forefront. SMART goals, however, are a list of principles to guide crafting an objective alone – with no particular focus on key results or tactics. SMART goals provoke the question “what is the goal?” Yet OKRs ask “what is the goal and how do we get there? Objectives and key results should connect like puzzle pieces, with the intent being that if the objective were to be reached, the key results must also be achieved. Therefore, there is an added layer of accountability for reaching the objective.
3. SMART goals are not a framework, they are a guideline. Similar to frameworks, SMART goals offer a structure by defining criteria which is used to inform the process of defining goals. However, while many may herald SMART goals as a framework – they are simply an approach or guiding set of principles for setting and building your goals.

How can I ensure my OKRs are SMART?

To ensure your OKRs are SMART ones, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Is my objective Specific? It’s okay to think big but narrowing down on a central area improves the focus on your goals.
2. Are my key results Measurable? How will I quantify success?

“The establishment of objectives and the development of their respective action plans are the most critical steps in a company’s management process.” George T. Doran