Everyone has goals – personal goals, and of course professional goals. But how can you set yourself up for success in achieving your goals? It’s simple. Write them down, and make them Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound.

SMART goals drive farm success

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Farming requires careful planning and continuous improvement. It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day operation and “putting out fires,” and lose sight of your long-term goals and how you are positioning the farm for ongoing success.

Researcher and psychologist Gail Matthews discovered that people are 42 per cent more likely to accomplish their goals if they write them down. Written goals provide you with a sense of direction and motivation, a way to prioritize, and of course, measure progress. Written goals help you to stay focused on achieving your objectives.

The next piece of the puzzle: Set goals that are clear and actionable. The SMART framework will help.

SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound. This framework helps ensure your goals are not just dreams or wishes, but can be realized.

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Here are some specific examples of how to apply SMART goals in farming:

Specific: Instead of a somewhat vague goal like “improve crop yield,” a SMART goal specifies exactly what yield increase you are aiming for. For example, “Increase our canola yield by 10 per cent.”

Measurable: Measurable goals help you track your progress and adjust your efforts accordingly. In the example of increasing your canola yield, what measures can you put in place to track your yield towards achieving a 10 per cent increase?

Achievable: Your goals must be realistic, based on available resources and expertise. Resources can include your inputs, equipment and, of course, people. Is increasing your yield by 10 per cent feasible? How so? Better inputs? Equipment? Agronomists? Having achievable goals is important for preventing frustration, disappointment and burnout within the team.

Relevant: Focusing on goals that align with your farm’s overall vision and mission will help gain buy-in from members of the farm team, including family, employees and even external advisors. Having relevant goals ensures your efforts contribute to your broader business objectives and everyone feels good about their role in achieving these goals.

Time-bound: Setting a deadline keeps the farm team motivated and focused, ensuring that goals are met within a reasonable time frame. When will you achieve a 10 per cent increase in yield? Perhaps by the end of this growing season, or even more precise – by September 30!

Having SMART goals also provides an opportunity to celebrate your success and everyone’s part in achieving the goal – something we don’t do enough in farming! So, at the end of the growing season, take stock of your yield, and throw a team appreciation event to celebrate your accomplishments.

Even if you do not achieve your goal, it’s an opportunity to revisit the SMART framework and refine your goals going forward. Perhaps your goal wasn’t as achievable as you first thought and needs to be adjusted. Or perhaps there were mitigating circumstances, and the goal can be kept for next year.

A crucial part of farm business management is analyzing your current situation, identifying key areas for improvement, and breaking these down into manageable, trackable steps.

Using the SMART goal framework will help set realistic goals, enhance decision-making, and over time build confidence and farm team harmony, working together for the success of the operation and everyone involved.

One last tip: Ensure all relevant parties (e.g., family, the farm team, external advisors, etc.) are involved in the creation of goals to ensure the farm and its people have the capacity to achieve the goals. This also helps to motivate your team towards achieving the goals.