What are SMART goals designed to ensure?

SMART goals are specifically designed to ensure that objectives are well-defined and actionable. The acronym SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely, which collectively provide a clear framework for goal setting.

• Specific means the goal should be clear and precise, removing ambiguity about what is to be achieved.

• Measurable ensures that progress can be tracked, allowing individuals or teams to know when the goal has been achieved.

• Attainable indicates that the goal should be achievable given available resources and constraints, motivating rather than discouraging the individual.

• Realistic means that the goal should be set with a consideration of the current environment and potential obstacles, ensuring that it is practical to accomplish.

• Timely establishes a timeframe within which the goal should be achieved, creating urgency and helping to prioritize tasks.

Together, these elements create focused goals that can significantly enhance the likelihood of success in achieving objectives, whether in individual or team contexts. This makes option B the most accurate description of what SMART goals are designed to ensure.