Why aren't SMART goals enough for school leaders?
SMART goals are useful for one specific purpose: monitoring progress toward a measurable target. But they're terrible for the two things that matter most — motivation and daily action.
Try setting a SMART goal for improving your most important relationships. Or for becoming a better listener. It's awkward because the most meaningful goals resist clean measurement. That doesn't make them less important — it means you need a different type of goal alongside your SMART goals.
The most effective approach uses multiple levels: a purpose-level goal that provides meaning and direction, milestone goals that mark real progress, and daily practice goals that drive the specific behaviors you can control. SMART goals fit at the monitoring level, but they shouldn't be the whole architecture.
More on Goal-Setting and Achievement
What's the difference between a purpose goal and a progress goal?
A purpose goal is the reason you're doing the work — the big, meaningful outcome you're pursuing.
How do I stay on track with goals throughout the school year?
The school year has a natural rhythm that works against sustained goal pursuit.
What's wrong with "magic-wand thinking" when it comes to goals?
Magic-wand thinking is when you define a goal by its outcome — "I want my school's test scores to improve by 15%" — without working backward to the specific changes in practice that would produce that result.
Answered by Justin Baeder, PhD, Director of The Principal Center and author of three books on instructional leadership.