Designing Goals That Actually Work

Over my 12 years of leading and managing projects many times I have been turned to take over and try to save failing pieces of work. Sometimes I can completely turn these projects around. But a few times I quickly identify the whole project never should have been authorised in the first place as the goal the stakeholders want to achieve is simply not viable.

A non-attainable goal always has the same root in that when you assess the raw data the evidence shows that the goal is simply not possible to achieve.

While data can be manipulated to tell a story or construe a false narrative, the raw data never lies and if you use the right metrics and analysis tools you can always obtain the feasibility of a goal before initiating any piece of work.

This is why producing a sound business case and/or utilising an iterative approach is so important in project work, as you can ensure you have solid foundations to build on or design your work to quickly prove your concept and ensure you are directing your focus in the right way.

As part of goal setting correct and meaningful stakeholder engagement is vital, as without the correct information and source data you cannot evidence if a goal can actually be achieved.

A great way to assess a goal you are creating is to use the SMART metric. This helps ensure you think about all the key areas you need to gather information for to assess viability.

Specific: To achieve it your goal has to be specific and well defined so you know what you are aiming for.

Measurable: If you can measure your goal and make it quantifiable you can evaluate your success towards achieving that goal.

Achievable: Do you have the resources and capabilities on hand to achieve your goal? If you don't, what you are planning to achieve is not possible.

Relevant: Does your goal align to what your overall objectives and priorities are? Have you consulted the right people to ensure the goal fits what they want to achieve?

Timebound: How long will it take to achieve the goal? The time taken to complete a goal is a key aspect of judging its viability and establishing cost. It is one of the cornerstones of establishing the quality level in achieving a goal alongside having a clear scope and establishing cost of the work.