7 Smart Goals For Project Managers [Examples Included]

We get it—you're ambitious. But if you want to "completely transform the company in three months," you'll need a magic wand.

You need to be more specific than that. No vague goals, no plain objectives—just hitting the nail right on the head.

This is where SMART objectvies for project managers come in.

Goals are essential to plan for the future and give you a rational way of charting a path from an identified situation – the now, to what you aspire to be – the ideal. Setting goals for project management involves the process and not just the destination. It is the track from point As-Is to point To-Be.

Let's take a look at seven examples of smart goals that project managers can use to protect themselves from project derailment and ensure great project outcomes.

Understanding the SMART Criteria

First and foremost, we need to understand what the SMART criteria means.

George T. Doran introduced this concept in 1981 in a paper titled "A S.M.A.R.T. Way to Write Management’s Goals and Objectives." Doran created this framework to help organizations set and achieve their goals effectively.

Since then, SMART has become widely used in various fields like business, education, and personal development as a popular framework for goal-setting. Whether you're improving client expectations or launching a new product, SMART objectives are a systematic strategy for setting objectives that help guarantee success.

Below, we'll discuss the SMART framework's component goal by using examples to demonstrate how it functions and how each criterion supports successful goal-setting.

So when we talk about SMART goals, the letters stand for the following:

S for “Specific"

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This means we must set a clear, well-defined goal focused on precisely our desired outcome. Our goals should answer questions like who is involved, where and when the work will happen, and why it is essential. By setting specific goals, we can clarify our intentions, track our progress, and increase our chances of success. So, it's important to be specific when setting our project management goals to ensure we have a clear outcome in mind.

M for “Measurable"

Any goal we set should be quantifiable in some way so we can track our progress toward achieving it. By making our goal measurable, we can see how far we've come, how much further there is to go, and whether we need to adjust our approach to achieve the desired outcome.

Essentially, the idea is to set specific and quantifiable goals so we can easily monitor our progress and adjust our strategy if necessary.

Let's look at an example :

Good Measurable Goal: Increase website traffic by 25% within six months by implementing a targeted content marketing strategy and improving search engine optimization (SEO) efforts.

A for "Attainable or Achievable"

Simply put, the objectives we set for the project should be achievable and feasible. While pushing ourselves to achieve our goals is necessary, we should not go too far or we'll risk setting ourselves up for failure. Setting reasonable goals helps teams to stay motivated and prevents overwhelm or discouragement.

To do this, we must consider various elements, including the resources at our disposal, the time frame in which we want to accomplish our goal, and any potential roadblocks that might get in the way of our progress. By working hard and being committed, you can set an achievable goal that you can actually reach, and you'll be successfully set up for larger goals.

R for “Relevant"

This means a goal should be meaningful and aligned with our overall objectives and priorities. We must ensure our goal has a meaningful impact on our upcoming project or project team and contributes to growth and success.

To determine if a goal is relevant, assess whether it aligns with your long-term objectives and adds value to your project management goals or team. Setting appropriate goals helps you stay focused on what matters and avoid wasting your time and energy on tasks that don't align with your objectives.

Good example: Develop and implement a training program for new project managers to improve their skills and ensure consistency in project delivery.

Bad example: Organize a team-building event.

T “Time-bound"

This means that when we set a goal, we should give it a specific deadline or timeframe for completion. Doing so creates a sense of urgency and a clear timeline for achieving the goal. It also helps prevent procrastination and keeps us on track.

A time-bound project management goal also allows us to track progress and determine whether the deadline has been met.

Setting a realistic timeframe before a project kickoff is vital in considering potential obstacles or constraints, such as resource availability or unexpected delays. Setting a time-bound goal makes you more likely to stay focused, motivated, and accountable for achieving your objective within the designated timeframe.

Effective Goal-Setting: How Each Criterion Contributes

The SMART framework provides a helpful guideline for setting clear, concise, and achievable goals. Each of the five criterias plays a vital role in effective goal-setting, which are:

• Specificity. Being specific involves clearly and concisely defining the goal, ensuring it is well-defined and focused. Setting specific goals allows individuals and teams to clarify their intentions, measure progress, and increase their chances of success.
• Measurability. Measurable goals establish specific metrics to follow progress and to determine how far they have come, how far they still need to go, and whether they're on track to meet their targets.
• Achievability. Setting achievable goals in client onboarding means streamlining the onboarding process using templates and automated tools to improve your client's experience.
• Relevant and time-bound. Relevant goals align with overall objectives and time-bound goals set a specific timeline for achieving smart project goals. Together, these criteria ensure that the project manager and team set effective goals that increase the chances of success and provide a roadmap for achieving the desired outcome.

Establishing SMART Project Management Goals

Now that you have an idea of what SMART objectives are, it is time to create your own project management goal. What areas should you emphasize when setting smart objectives for effective project management? Let’s discuss them below.

Project objectives

Project objectives are smaller, manageable steps that help achieve your overall goal. These tasks are often simple, measurable targets and assigned to smaller groups. The objectives focus on making immediate, tactical changes but remain as realistic goals.

Although this process can sometimes feel tedious and stressful, it’s an essential first step to ensuring your objectives are aligned with your project management goals.

What do you need to do?

Determine if you need to consider more than one objective for your entire project. You might only need to identify one aim for project efficiency, as SMART goals should be reliable benchmarks and indicators of how close you are to hitting a bullseye on your target. 

Be careful not to divvy up your goal into set project management objectives more than necessary as this may lead to overthinking, confusion, and frustration.

Hard data

While sometimes you just run the day with gut feel and instinct, you need to employ one of the important project management skills which is considering budget and data. Getting involved in statistics and other metrics widens your options and establishes solid evidence of what needs to be changed or improved, as part of organizational strategy for your project management goals.

Is the step you're going to take viable? Will the product, service, or personnel development affect financial performance? Let your data do the goal-setting.

Strategy

Be strategic but know your limits. Remember, be SMART! Thinking macro will move you from a daily to-do list to focusing on other underdeveloped areas for your product or service.

Nowadays, teams are starting to embrace the digital world through virtual-based working methods.

How will you stay ahead in the field? What are your plans for your organization to be technology-enabled? Project management software and cloud solutions have become more reliable and more present in project progress. If project management tools are properly implemented, strategic goals help redistribute valuable resources.

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Career development

One of the best ways to keep your team motivated is to work with them on their individual career goals. Identify their short-term professional goals and long-term career opportunities. What direction is their role going in?  Your career goals will also motivate you to dig deep and find your real aspirations. Connect where you are right now with what you want to be in the future.

Examples of SMART Goals in Project Management

1. Development goals

Development goals follow the basic goals for project management phases of Initiation, Planning and Design, Construction and Execution, Monitoring and Control, Completion, and Review. Developmental goals allow you to step back and focus on the big picture. The challenge is to set the bar high and keep it there.

An example of a SMART developmental project management goals statement related to the planning and design phase would be:

“By June 10, the team will have planned the implementation protocol, completed one pilot trial to field test the protocol they have designed, and be ready to present feedback on any adjustments needed to the protocol to make it successful within the project budget."

Another example of this is:

“Launch the new product by September 30th, 2023, to coincide with the industry trade show."‍

2. Performance goals

Performance is often measured through evaluation at the end of the project. Good communication skills and regular updates during the project will greatly assist your post-project review. Update and talk regularly with stakeholders, and give milestone feedback to your team members for a likelihood of project success. Conduct evaluations like annual employee reviews to check your team’s productivity, strengths, and weaknesses. Assist them in developing their technical and soft skills. This way, you are also developing great leaders. Remember that you're not the only one with career goals.

An example of a SMART performance goal is:

"By the end of the year, Chris will have completed in-house training in financial reporting, been supervised on financial reporting for two projects, and be confident in completing the financial reports for the projects he handles.

3. Communication goals

Communication goals help ensure everyone on the team has a common goal. With communication goals, you draw up plans to help team members better communicate their struggles and schedules. This includes optimizing communication channels, creating clear guidelines on how team members make decisions, and giving feedback.

You also need to clearly state who needs to be informed about project milestones and when. This way, team members know their roles and responsibilities, which breeds trust and most likely leads to likelihood of project success.

An example of a SMART communication goal is:

"By the end of Q1, I'll ensure 100% of the project team members receive weekly status updates through email and bi-weekly virtual meetings, ensuring that at least 90% of team members are available at the meetings and a survey score of at least 4/5 regarding employee satisfaction with the communication on the team."

4. Yearly goals

The rise of the challenge in upskilling and reskilling calls for responsive restructure and reorganization. The project manager's role is to deliver and complete projects by being adaptable.

Project managers' yearly goals include keeping pace with the developing digital world. This develops reputational strength and reliability, and positive word of mouth improves clients’ and teams' trust.

Awareness of the latest industry impacts aids in determining your organization's future direction. It can also shed light on the higher-level financial, business, and profitability effects these sways may bring.

The SMART way to state your project's yearly goals could be:

“I will keep on top of the industry trends throughout the year so that my team can maximize opportunities as they arise. I will do this by setting aside half a day each month to keep up-to-date with industry developments, technology,, and training opportunities. I will summarise three points from my research in an email to my team each time."

5. Efficiency goals

Efficiency goals focus on working smarter rather than harder. How can you achieve your project management goals by using available resources more effectively? This would include finding ways to reduce costs, save money, and maintain project quality.

Even with the fewest resources or systems, advanced project management can take your team from average results to more successful projects. Here, you focus on optimizing your resources, improving continuously, and learning from the wins and mistakes of previous projects.

One way to put your SMART efficiency goals is this:

"I will improve task efficiency within the team by 20% over the next three months by improving how the team prioritizes tasks and streamlining repetitive work using simple automation. I'll also build a culture that values efficient workflows and ensure content is well-organized so the team can use its resources wisely without burning anyone out."

6. Time-management goals

Time management goals help you manage your time better. Prioritize task management by focusing on one at a time. Set deadlines for these tasks and follow them strictly. Create plans and routines that will help team members schedule time for meetings and work activities. Delegating tasks to people who can handle them allows you to focus on other important tasks.

An example of a SMART time-management goal is:

"By the end of Q2, I will improve the team's time management by using a task scheduling powerful tool like Asana or Trello to reduce delays by 20%. I will do this by conducting a 1-hour team training session on the tool, creating project timelines with clear milestones, and holding weekly 15-minute check-ins to ensure tasks are on track."

7. Risk-management goals

Risk management goals require you to identify potential risks, monitor them, and prioritize them before a project kickoff. These goals help minimize scope creep and failures. They also inform the team on how to respond to risks, especially high-impact risks that can negatively affect a project's image.

One way to put your SMART risk-management goals is as follows:

By the end of this quarter, I will have a solid risk management plan to prevent unexpected issues from derailing our project. I'll start by hosting a brainstorming session with the team to identify potential risks, then create a simple risk tracker to prioritize and monitor them.

Key Points: Time To Set Those SMART Objectives!

There you have it! Seven examples of smart goals for project managers. Remember to always set project goals based on:

• Specificity. Clarify intentions and set a clear, defined goal.
• Measurable. Determine if your projects can be tracked. Always check your progress.
• Achievable. Consider available resources to make sure your goals are realistic.
• Relevant. Provide a clear sense of purpose for your projects.
• Timeliness. Set specific timelines to promote focus and urgency.

Following this framework can help you take your project from planning to execution and lead to likelihood of project success

Remember, you can start by creating project management goals based on these SMART objectives examples. The most important step is implementing and following through with them!