What does the 'S' in SMART goal setting stand for?

The 'S' in SMART goal setting stands for Specific. This aspect of goal setting emphasizes the importance of clarity and precision in defining the goal. A specific goal clearly articulates what is to be achieved, who is involved, where it is to happen, and why it is important. For example, instead of setting a general goal like "I want to get in shape," a specific goal would be "I want to run a 5K race in three months."

Having a specific focus helps to eliminate ambiguity, guiding actions and efforts in a targeted manner. This clarity ensures that resources can be allocated effectively, and progress can be measured more efficiently, ultimately increasing the chances of achieving the desired outcome.

Other options, while they may relate to goal setting in various contexts, do not capture the specific nature of the first component of the SMART framework.