Goal Setting with Data

If we and our team are being pulled in so many different directions that we don’t know what our goals are or how to reach them, it’s time to take a step back. Review the product strategy and ensure that the goals are realistic, measurable, and in-line with the product vision. To make sure we’re setting the right goals, we can use one of the following frameworks for goal setting.

SMART framework

The SMART goal-setting framework is defined as:

• Specific: Specify clearly what we intend to do, who is in charge of it, and what activities must be completed. Be as specific as possible. Specificity of goals is critical in this process because having ambiguous goals can be not only difficult to achieve but also hard to measure and track.

• Measurable: Each goal should have a measurable outcome and a clear definition of success. This will allow us to assess our accomplishments and track our progress. We won’t know whether we have succeeded if we can’t measure it.

• Achievable: Outline the measures our team must take to achieve the goals and ensure they are realistic and reasonable. There will surely be obstacles along the path, so ensure they are identified ahead of time.

• Relevant: Keep our product vision in mind and set targets that will be worth the effort. Knowing why each of the goals we establish is significant is specific.

• Time-bound: Set a deadline for each goal. Set start and end dates so everyone on the team is on the same page. Otherwise, we risk discouraging our crew. Include check-in dates to revisit goals as we go and determine whether we should iterate.

The methodology for establishing SMART goals can be summed up in trying to write down our goals in the following format.