Goal setting has become so commonplace that most of us will set a personal or work-related goal at the beginning of the year. In fact, a Gallup survey found that about 70% of Americans were either likely or very likely to set goals for 2023.
But setting goals is one thing. Meeting them is more challenging.
For decades, goal-setting experts have recommended SMART Goals. “SMART” stands for specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound. The principles behind the acronym are sound; after all, people are more likely to achieve clearly written goals with specific objectives and firm deadlines.
However, while the SMART framework may produce some results, it does have some drawbacks. “Achievable” and “realistic” may lead some people to define such modest goals that it would be almost impossible not to meet them. The SMART framework also doesn’t encourage transparency, which could mean that goals aren’t tied to an overall company or team strategy or that individuals aren’t sharing resources and information to ensure everyone achieves their goals.
A better approach to setting goals is the FAST Goal framework. FAST stands for:
Frequently discussed: Leaders, directors, and managers have frequent conversations about goals with their teams and direct reports. These conversations include checking progress, ensuring that team members have the resources they need and are aligned with the overall strategy, and correcting course where necessary.
Ambitious: People set ambitious goals - achievable with hard work and intention, but not impossible or dependent on perfectly aligned external factors. Aiming for “ambitious” instead of “achievable” challenges us so that goals aren’t set too low or so easy to achieve that it would be impossible to miss the goal.
Specific: Team members translate goals into firm metrics with defined milestones. With specifics and clarity up front, team members and their key stakeholders can adjust goals along the way or reallocate resources if necessary to help achieve outcomes.
Transparent: Within reason, everyone on the team should know everyone else’s goals. With transparency, teams can work together to ensure alignment with the overall company strategy.
In the context of the workplace, it makes sense to have frequent check-ins and open communication about work-related goals. However, the SMART acronym doesn’t specify this level of communication or call for setting checkpoints. Without making specific checkpoints part of the process, it could be easy for someone to fill out a SMART worksheet, get any required approval, and then simply avoid checking in until absolutely necessary.
FAST Goals embed communication right in the acronym–the “F” stands for “Frequently Discussed.” In any planning process, individuals must set specific times that they will check in with bosses and team members. By building those checkpoints in at the very beginning, the FAST framework provides built-in accountability and encourages connection and support.
Some goal-setting frameworks are too static for the modern business environment. These frameworks encourage a “set it and forget it” approach that struggles to adapt when organizational or team goals change.
With FAST Goals, team members and leaders check in periodically and reassess milestones, resources, and goals. Because of frequent communication and transparency, teams can change direction together and remain aligned, and everyone can ensure that everyone is moving toward company goals.
When goals are too easy, team members can meet them with minimal effort. On the other hand, if goals are too ambitious or dependent on uncontrollable market forces or other external factors, team members could become frustrated and discouraged and simply give up.
The FAST framework looks for the “Goldilocks” goals—those that are “just right,” neither too easy nor too difficult. People know that putting a healthy amount of effort into achieving goals will most likely bring good results.
With other goal-setting systems, team members are encouraged to focus on individual goals, which can contribute to siloes or isolation from the overall team or company goals.
Because of the emphasis on transparency, FAST Goals promote alignment between team members, helping to ensure that all goals contribute to overall success for the team and organization. In addition, frequent conversations help everyone reallocate resources or reassess milestones and deadlines to improve the chances of everyone meeting goals.
Setting and meeting goals is an essential tool to help anyone grow in a career, achieve personal growth, or contribute to company outcomes, and any approach is better than nothing. However, with the FAST Goals framework, leaders and team members will realize better outcomes—for individuals, teams, and the organization.
Download our FAST Goals Planning Sheet to set FAST Goals for yourself.