Productivity by SMART Formula
SMART formula is a term used by planning managers and management teams to push their teams’ productivity and engagement; the word smart is not the traditional English word used to describe clever people, it is a word of five acronyms where each letter describe a term, there are multiple versions interpreting the letters.
SMART formula is a good practice to follow achieving your goals and execute your tasks by making multiple SMART tasks. You does not have to be expert in planning to do it, you just need enough reason and self-push to do it and follow through. SMART formula takes you from your comfort zone to action execution zone.
Philosophies describe SMART formula by different versions:
Version A: SMART (Specific, Measureable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely)
Version B: SMART (Specific, Measureable, Assignable, Relevant, Time-based)
My version of SMART (Simple, Meaningful, Actionable, Reasonable, Timed)
Simple Task
Simple task does not mean simple to do, or simple for you, although it could be both, it should be describable simply. To have simple task, you need to describe it in simple words, Einstein quote “if you can’t explain it to six years old, you don’t understand it yourself”. Simple task is something you can do and explore its complexity while doing it. By writing a task descriptive simple statement, you provide yourself with productive tool to explore more detailed tasks within it, or just doing it.
Meaningful Task
Meaningful for others to understand if they ask you what are you doing. Describing your task in meaningful terms reduce more than 50% of your time to take action. Meaningful task can keep your energy high while you are working on it, it can help others to help you if you are struggling. A meaningful task is measurable as well; measuring the result of meaningful task is far easier than measuring nondigestive description.
Actionable Task
It is not necessary to have the skills to achieve the task; however, it is more important to know the minimum actions that you should take to engage doing it. Anthony Robbins philosophy round around taking action and following through.
Actions should be doable as you are adding them to your list of tasks to do; they should follow the SMART formula to be meaningful and achievable. The most important factor to consider while taking actions on your tasks is not to underestimate your ability to accomplish them. You will be more creative taking actions on simple meaningful tasks.
Reasonable Task
You have to be reasonable for yourself to be productive, a task cannot be completed by its description is not reasonable, you should split it to multiple SMART tasks to be actionable and achievable. A task of schedule of tasks is far more productive than one big chunk of non-reasonable task. Task listing and scheduling does not only improve productivity, it inspires creativity.
Timed Task
Productivity is using time properly and effectively by doing the most in least time. There is no single formula to follow in deciding time required to achieve specific task. However, a task that drains your energy until getting it done is not SMART task. A task can take several hours to accomplish should not be done in one shot, you have to do it over several sessions with multiple time-breaks depending on your productive focus time zone. A task of multiple days to complete is a project that need schedule of small SMART tasks to do.
Timed task become more achievable when you know your productivity time, early morning, afternoon, or night. You are the best person to know your peek productivity hours during the day.
Final Words
Productivity is skill you need to build and practice by taking consistent continuous actions, spiking on inspiration is important; however, it does not lead to productivity. Being consistent in writing SMART goals, and SMART tasks, then taking action to follow through guarantee your success.
Author: Jawad Alalawi
Information Technology Professional specialized in Financial Payment Services, Risk Management, Information Security, and Compliance. Experienced in solutions development and implementation, and technology writer.
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