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SMART Objective Setting for Managers: A Roadmap
***Amazon Best Seller***
Do you feel out of your depth when setting objectives for your team?
Ah, the annual ritual of objective-setting! Loved by so few, undertaken by so many. Do you get a slight knot in the pit of your stomach, just thinking about it? You’re not alone…
Most managers dread it because they're not 100% sure of what they're supposed to do. Promoted with little training, they're just supposed to know how to design objectives. Know how to develop soft skills. Sure it's easy, right?
On top of that, there’s the niggling feeling that the process doesn’t make much of a difference. It's a tick-box exercise managers are forced to do. Sound familiar? Here's a little secret for you...
The usual SMART theory is based on you setting a goal for you ...but performance objective-setting naturally involves setting a goal with another person i.e., we're dealing with two processes - SMART and Communication.
Based on insights arising from the author's own management experience, developing hundreds of managers and designing performance management processes, enter the SMART world of objective-setting
What would a 10% increase in your team's performance mean to you?
Do you feel out of your depth when setting objectives for your team?
Ah, the annual ritual of objective-setting! Loved by so few, undertaken by so many. Do you get a slight knot in the pit of your stomach, just thinking about it? You’re not alone…
Most managers dread it because they're not 100% sure of what they're supposed to do. Promoted with little training, they're just supposed to know how to design objectives. Know how to develop soft skills. Sure it's easy, right?
On top of that, there’s the niggling feeling that the process doesn’t make much of a difference. It's a tick-box exercise managers are forced to do. Sound familiar? Here's a little secret for you...
The usual SMART theory is based on you setting a goal for you ...but performance objective-setting naturally involves setting a goal with another person i.e., we're dealing with two processes - SMART and Communication.
Based on insights arising from the author's own management experience, developing hundreds of managers and designing performance management processes, enter the SMART world of objective-setting
What would a 10% increase in your team's performance mean to you?
178 pages, Paperback
Published September 22, 2020
86 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Irial O'Farrell
3 books6 followersHi there and welcome to my author page. As I write management and leadership books, I have a confession to make. I'm a bit of a "people geek". Since my very first job in Sydney, Australia, I've been fascinated with what inspires people to work hard and what demotivates them.
This fascination has led me on a merry dance, from Sydney to Boston to Dublin, Ireland (where I was born). My career also evolved from Financial Services operations into management onto learning and development, where it evolved into executive coaching, organisation design and strategy.
My curiosity about people, coupled with high aptitude for abstract reasoning, allows me to make sense of what is happening with performance within organisations, and it's not always what it seems!
I published my first book, Values - Not Just for the Office Wall Plaque in 2012, then life "happened" but I'm back in the saddle, raring to go with my second book, SMART Objective Setting for Managers.
This fascination has led me on a merry dance, from Sydney to Boston to Dublin, Ireland (where I was born). My career also evolved from Financial Services operations into management onto learning and development, where it evolved into executive coaching, organisation design and strategy.
My curiosity about people, coupled with high aptitude for abstract reasoning, allows me to make sense of what is happening with performance within organisations, and it's not always what it seems!
I published my first book, Values - Not Just for the Office Wall Plaque in 2012, then life "happened" but I'm back in the saddle, raring to go with my second book, SMART Objective Setting for Managers.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 5, 2020
Every organization should incorporate the SMART objective setting in their training for managers!
Objectives provide the basis upon which efforts can be directed, thereby assisting in the commonality of purpose among employees, managers, teams, and organizations. They are not always cemented in stone, but can be adjustable (via contingency planning). Yet, even with adjustability, the primary direction remains the same, namely to succeed both as individuals and as a group. Since objectives are an end-result, they need to be periodically evaluated, progress toward them assessed, and whether or not an objective has been reached (thereby necessitating the establishment of a new objective or focus on another objective already determined). As such, deciding upon objectives, the means to attain them, evaluation of progress, and reflection (feedback) afterwards are primary components of the management system taught at undergraduate and graduate business programs worldwide.
The book provides a very comprehensive discussion of SMART objective setting! We remember the business courses we took in graduate school and I (James) taught, and we concur with the following main takeaways from the book which are: (1) Knowing the purpose of setting the objectives and setting high-quality objectives - whether they are role-specific, business-aligned, technical or behavioural objectives - are very important in ensuring the effectiveness of a performance-management system; (2) SMART is a tool to help achieve the objectives set within a specific period. It helps ensure that employees and managers involved are clear about the outcomes; and (3) It is critical to recognize the drivers, supports and options in order to design a more effective objective setting. The maxim for competence stands out, “Give a person a fish, feed them for a day. Teach a person to fish, feed them for life.”
We applaud the author for writing a very comprehensive book on SMART objective-setting! The book has very helpful illustrations or case studies, learning points, revisions, chapter summaries, and prompts for you sections. Every organization should incorporate the SMART objective setting in their training for managers!
James L. Jordan, PhD, PhD and Deovina Jordan, PhD, MD
Objectives provide the basis upon which efforts can be directed, thereby assisting in the commonality of purpose among employees, managers, teams, and organizations. They are not always cemented in stone, but can be adjustable (via contingency planning). Yet, even with adjustability, the primary direction remains the same, namely to succeed both as individuals and as a group. Since objectives are an end-result, they need to be periodically evaluated, progress toward them assessed, and whether or not an objective has been reached (thereby necessitating the establishment of a new objective or focus on another objective already determined). As such, deciding upon objectives, the means to attain them, evaluation of progress, and reflection (feedback) afterwards are primary components of the management system taught at undergraduate and graduate business programs worldwide.
The book provides a very comprehensive discussion of SMART objective setting! We remember the business courses we took in graduate school and I (James) taught, and we concur with the following main takeaways from the book which are: (1) Knowing the purpose of setting the objectives and setting high-quality objectives - whether they are role-specific, business-aligned, technical or behavioural objectives - are very important in ensuring the effectiveness of a performance-management system; (2) SMART is a tool to help achieve the objectives set within a specific period. It helps ensure that employees and managers involved are clear about the outcomes; and (3) It is critical to recognize the drivers, supports and options in order to design a more effective objective setting. The maxim for competence stands out, “Give a person a fish, feed them for a day. Teach a person to fish, feed them for life.”
We applaud the author for writing a very comprehensive book on SMART objective-setting! The book has very helpful illustrations or case studies, learning points, revisions, chapter summaries, and prompts for you sections. Every organization should incorporate the SMART objective setting in their training for managers!
James L. Jordan, PhD, PhD and Deovina Jordan, PhD, MD
October 19, 2021
Since the day I read this book I have always recommended it to friends that have small/medium businesses. The book is an absolute treasure when it comes to training managers. I've used some of the tips in my own company and I've seen great results.
January 18, 2022
Useful tool for a first time team leader
I picked up this book because I wanted to gain skills in performance management of my team and the first step would be to be able to set up objectives we can measure performance against. I was able to gain that knowledge from this book and used the examples in setting up SMART goals with my direct reports that they can work towards with my support and guidance. This is a book that all managers who are involved in objective setting should read!
I picked up this book because I wanted to gain skills in performance management of my team and the first step would be to be able to set up objectives we can measure performance against. I was able to gain that knowledge from this book and used the examples in setting up SMART goals with my direct reports that they can work towards with my support and guidance. This is a book that all managers who are involved in objective setting should read!
February 25, 2021
Very clear, very easy to put into practice
This book was extremely helpful to me as a new manager working with people to write their development objectives for the first time. I liked the example conversations, and felt like they could definitely happen in real life and they made the concepts super clear. Definitely recommend this book.
This book was extremely helpful to me as a new manager working with people to write their development objectives for the first time. I liked the example conversations, and felt like they could definitely happen in real life and they made the concepts super clear. Definitely recommend this book.
June 11, 2024
Some useful framing as to why this still matters and applies to business, performance and development.
But too much obvious explanation of not enough examples. Applying it is easy- would prefer gold standard examples across multiple functions versus the 5 steps if the acronym literally applied and reapplied to one example
But too much obvious explanation of not enough examples. Applying it is easy- would prefer gold standard examples across multiple functions versus the 5 steps if the acronym literally applied and reapplied to one example
September 21, 2021
Irial O'Farrell's books are great. She gives great advice, the information is accurate, well written and helpful. I recommend her books.
September 23, 2021
Easy to understand, great for training new managers. I think this book can be very useful. I recommend it.
February 14, 2022
I liked very much the way the information in the book is presented. It allows you to learn ND at the same time implement what you have learned. A lot of supporting information inside. Definetly a must read for anyone who wants to plan and execute SMART-er
March 4, 2023
A good explanation of how to set SMART objectives, not only for yourself but for your employees too. It is interesting that something that comes across so simple can be interpreted in so many different ways.
This book breaks down each step and explains it in full with a real example for each one. A good read.
This book breaks down each step and explains it in full with a real example for each one. A good read.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews