Jen’s Agile Cliff Notes — SMART Goals

What is a SMART Goal? It can apply to any goal you set, not just Agile-related ones. We write our PI Objectives in SMART goal format, but it can also be used to write better sprint goals. A SMART Goal is scientifically proven to help teams set and achieve goals. They excel at providing the framework to create a compelling PI Objective or Sprint Goal. You can even use them for retrospective goals!

Let’s dive in…

They give you direction. A well-planned goal helps you move forward in the direction you need or want to go. For example, if you want to become a sales manager someday, writing down that goal with specifics on what steps you will take to achieve it can help you begin working on your goal right away.

They help you stay on track. A specific goal provides a clear plan for accomplishing a task or project. You can often look at your goal to help you stay motivated. For example, if you need to write a training guide for new employees, you can examine the timeline required to reach that goal on a daily or weekly basis. This reminder can help you meet your deadline.

They make large projects easier. You can break down your goals into smaller tasks to avoid becoming overwhelmed by a large project. For example, writing an entire training guide might seem daunting. However, if you set a goal to write one…