We all heard of SMART goals. Lets recap for those that have not.

S-Specific

M – Measurable

A – Achievable

R- Realistic

T – Time

I want address the A which I think is very often misunderstood. What does Achievable mean. At first when I came across SMART goals I would think of it literally as can I achieve this and apply a subject evaluation of it.

Often this was a subjective evaluation and had little relevance. It also resulted in plenty of despondency as unrealised goals piled up.

But there is a better way to apply the A in SMART goals.

I was recently coaching one my clients from www altitude journeyman who set up a goal to get a job in a specific career. When she approached me for career coaching this was her goal and her purpose was for me to coach her into the job she desired.

Always in a coaching intervention we like to set the goals with the client up front so we know what the outcome we are working towards is. As we worked through the SMART model for her goals we got stuck on the A.

Every time I asked her if she felt this goal was achievable she was answer yes absolutely. I then asked her what makes it achievable. He answer was I can do this, I have the skills, I have the experience, and I have the determination.

These are all great qualities to have and very commendable, but what about these qualities makes getting that job achievable I asked. This is where it got difficult because the answer isn’t as obvious as one would think it was.

As coaches we never try lead people or suggest. The idea in coaching is to gently lead a person down a path of self discovery and learning to learn something for themselves.

I was tempted to jump in and give the answer. However, I asked the following question.

When you apply for a job is it entirely up to you whether you will get that job or not. Do you make the decision to hire you?

After a pause she said well obviously not. Then knowing that answer do you think that your are 100% responsible for getting the job you want. She answered no and the light bulb went on and she smiled.

You see if the goal is not entirely dependent on you to achieve then it is not an achievable goal.

So how might my client have rethought that goal. She could have said “I commit to contacting 10 recruiters every week” – It SMART in also aspects but most importantly because it is 100% achievable.

Read my blog on owning your goals at https://altitudejourney.com/blog/own-your-goals for more clarity about goals

By the way she got a job soon after we changed the goal.

Feel free to get in contact with use at www.https://altitudejourney.com/coaching