Help with Writing Objectives (Beyond SMART)

Oh, how I wish there were specific instructions to write effective objectives.  However, I’ve found the best ‘instructions’ aren’t really steps as much as a list of questions, roughly in order and listed below.

The questions underline a key point.  To write the best objectives, talk, listen and collaborate with other people.  Go find senior people you trust (or are simply too important not to engage) or close colleagues you can listen to criticism, but not negativity.

Above all, these conversations often may save you time by:

• Giving you key advice or information, particularly a historical or situational context
• Telling you NOT to do something
• Getting initial feedback, or
• Learning “the unwritten rules” of an organisation.

1.  What are you* trying to achieve?  And why?

The second question is often more important.  Why do you want to achieve that – but not another – specific outcome?

* For clarity, you could be a professional vs persona, or group vs individual.

2.  Is your objective big picture or specific?

If your written objective is broad or big picture, it’s likely to be a goal, not an objective.  If it’s specific or focused, it’s likely to be an objective, not a goal.

Does it matter if it’s one or the other?  YES.  Goals provide direction.  Objectives track your progress.  One without the other is like cutting off a leg.

Again, for clarity:  a goal is what you want, an outcome is what you get.

3.  Always start the statement with an active verb.

For some people it’s helpful to think of an objective as if you were writing a recipe.  Every recipe instruction begins with an active verb:  heat, measure, marinate, mix, stir, fry.  Active verbs simply make the statement sound ‘do-able’ if not exact.

Do not think your first draft is the final draft.  Share them.  Ask for critical feedback.  Ask yourself if you can improve them (more clarity or conciseness, better language).

4.  Define the scope (the boundaries) and outcome (what exactly must you have after the task is complete).

Here’s something helpful I found from the National Institutes of Health:  the components of a well-defined objective (the ABCD Model).

• • Audience:  Who is this for?
  • Behaviour: What will they do?
  • Condition:  Under what circumstances or situation?
  • Degree:  How well must it be done?

5.  Keep it simple.

A few general guidelines:

• • Keep the objective to 1-2 sentences, or no more than 30 words. If you don’t know what to cut, immediately axe all adjectives (“big”) and adverbs (“just”)
  • Regardless of what you think of SMART, one aspect should be in all objectives:  always ensure there is a precises time frame the objective must be achieved.  If you don’t tell your audience by when something needs to occur, they’ll likely choose a looser time frame. 

6.  If relevant, apply the principles of SMART.

There are many articles for and against SMART – both intelligent and idiotic.  But, they are a simple set of standards to use as a first draft.  Once you have a ‘discuss-able’ list, by all means look to other systems to refine and improve your objectives.  An excellent variation is FAST, a system created by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and highlighted in this article from its Sloan Review, entitled “With Goals, FAST Beats SMART.”  (A subscription may be required.)