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Unlock Your Architecture Firm’s Growth & Success with the S.M.A.R.T. & G.R.E.A.T. Goals Frameworks!

The ability to set and achieve goals is an essential part of personal and professional success, whether you're striving for personal growth, learning new skills, or building a sustainable architecture firm.

S.M.A.R.T. Goals and G.R.E.A.T. Goals are two highly-effective frameworks which can help you rethink and refine your goal-setting process.

Both frameworks can help you define goals that are achievable, measurable, and time-bound. Where the two frameworks differ is in the scope of the goals they are best suited to.

In this article, we will explore the differences between S.M.A.R.T. Goals and G.R.E.A.T. Goals and help you better understand which framework is best for the goals you are trying to achieve.

What are S.M.A.R.T. Goals?

S.M.A.R.T. is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely. Read more in our in-depth article on S.M.A.R.T. Goals.

This framework was developed by George Doran, Arthur Miller and James Cunningham in their 1981 article “There's a S.M.A.R.T. way to write management goals and objectives.” It is a well-known tool for setting goals in the corporate world.

The S.M.A.R.T. Goals framework emphasizes setting goals that are well-defined, measurable, and achievable within a specific timeframe, and are well-suited to tasks that are tactical in nature. Here's a breakdown of each of the S.M.A.R.T. Goals criteria:

Specific: Goals should be clear and well-defined, with a specific outcome in mind. Getting specific for each goal should help you answer two important questions: “What does done look like?” and “How will things be different once this goal is completed?”
Measurable: Goals should be measurable, so that progress can be accurately and easily tracked and success can be quantified in a numeric or incremental fashion, fe.g., increase new project inquiries this year by 150%.
Attainable: Goals should be challenging, but not impossible, and they should take into account the expertise, knowledge, resources, and skills of the person the goal is assigned to.
Relevant: Goals should be relevant to greater aspirations, such as your personal or professional mission.
Timely: Goals should create a sense of urgency and accountability and have a clear timeline for completion.

Download our S.M.A.R.T. Goals Guidebook

Having goals can benefit your firm in many ways, such as expanding your operations, improving lead generation, and increasing your profits.

In the past, many architects believed that their exceptional work would be enough to gain recognition and attract new projects. However, running an architecture firm requires more than belief.

To succeed you need a well-defined plan that can guide you towards your objectives, and that starts with clearly defined goals.

Our S.M.A.R.T. Goals Guidebook is a great resource to help you define your goals.

Download your copy today!

Download S.M.A.R.T. GOALS GUIDEBOOK

Examples of S.M.A.R.T. Goals for Architects

Dedicating 3 hours per week over the next 3 months to studying for the AREs
By the end of the year, winning three new custom home design projects valued at $1M+ construction cost
Getting booked to appear on five industry podcasts by the end of this month.

What are G.R.E.A.T. Goals?

G.R.E.A.T. is an acronym for Growth-Oriented, Realistic, Energizing, Aligned, and Time-bound.

This framework was developed by Jen Buzza, director of mentoring at UGURUS. It emphasizes setting goals that are focused on growth and development. Let’s look more closely at each of the G.R.E.A.T. Goals criteria:

Growth: Goals should be focused on creating or supporting growth and development beyond current capabilities or skill levels.
Realistic: Goals should be challenging but achievable, striking a fair balance between the current situation and a reasonable expectation of what can be achieved in the given timeframe.
Energizing: Goals should be defined for end results that will inspire action, excitement, and motivation towards completing them.
Aligned: Goals should be aligned with greater aspirations, such as a firm’s mission or vision.
Time-bound: Goals should have a clear deadline for completion that falls within a reasonable timeframe.

Examples of G.R.E.A.T. Goals for Architects

Over the coming three years, developing one of our own projects as Architects/Developers to serve our mission of providing affordable housing to those in need.
By the end of the year, assisting our associates with licensure, to add two new partners in the firm.
Automate the inquiry process and delegate initial calls/meetings to an associate, so I have more time to focus on design.

Similarities between the S.M.A.R.T. and G.R.E.A.T. Goals frameworks

Both the S.M.A.R.T. Goals and G.R.E.A.T. Goals frameworks can play crucial roles in an effective strategic plan. A strategic plan outlines an organization's objectives, and each of these frameworks can be integral to effectively achieving short- and long-term results.

Both frameworks share a common emphasis on defining clear goals that are easy to monitor and measure in terms of progress. This allows individuals and organizations to define incremental milestones for achieving their strategic objectives, which is important to maintaining accountability for progress and completion.

Both frameworks stress the importance of setting specific deadlines to create a sense of urgency and prevent important goals from being delayed or stalled.

Finally, both frameworks are designed to help individuals and organizations achieve growth and success through progress.

S.M.A.R.T. Goals provide a structured framework for individuals and organizations to break down their strategic plan into smaller, actionable steps.
G.R.E.A.T. Goals help to align actions with broader goals and missions, inspiring individuals and organizations to pursue their vision.

Differences between S.M.A.R.T. Goals and G.R.E.A.T. Goals

While both S.M.A.R.T. Goals and G.R.E.A.T. Goals are important for achieving growth and success, they differ in their focus and purpose.

S.M.A.R.T. Goals focus on the specific actions and tasks that need to be accomplished to achieve a particular outcome. Such goals are designed to keep you on track towards a measurable outcome. S.M.A.R.T. Goals are often seen as the tactical steps that are required in order to make progress towards a larger objective.

On the other hand, G.R.E.A.T. Goals are designed to inspire and energize you to achieve outcomes which are closely aligned with your greater vision. They are focused on achieving big ambitious milestones for your firm. G.R.E.A.T. goals are the ones that get you motivated and push you to reach a greater potential.

Another way to think of it is that S.M.A.R.T. Goals help you to stay focused on making progress towards larger goals, while G.R.E.A.T. Goals provide the inspiration and motivation to push yourself beyond what you thought was possible.

For example, if your S.M.A.R.T. goal is to increase your website traffic by 20% in the next six months, your G.R.E.A.T. goal might be to establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry while creating a loyal community of followers who are passionate about your work.

By setting both types of goals, you can create a roadmap that combines practical actions with big-picture vision.

Using S.M.A.R.T. Goals & G.R.E.A.T. Goals together

To achieve success in your firm, you need a clear vision and well-defined goals to help you achieve that vision.

S.M.A.R.T. Goals are great for breaking down large goals into specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound objectives. These goals help you to stay on track and make progress towards building a successful firm.

On the other hand, G.R.E.A.T. Goals are more focused on personal growth and development. These goals are aligned with your larger mission and values, and help you to achieve greater objectives that push you beyond your comfort zone. G.R.E.A.T. Goals can help you to think bigger and challenge yourself or your team to achieve greater success than you might have thought possible with S.M.A.R.T. goals alone.

Using S.M.A.R.T. Goals and G.R.E.A.T. Goals together can help you to achieve a balance between the practical tasks that need to be accomplished and the growth-oriented milestones you want to reach.

By using both frameworks together, you can break down your larger vision into actionable steps and measure your progress along the way. This ensures that you stay focused and motivated, while also making consistent progress towards your greater ambitions.

For example, if your G.R.E.A.T. goal is to grow your revenue by 30% in the next year, you can break this down into smaller, S.M.A.R.T. goals such as increasing your marketing budget by 20% (to help reach and attract a larger audience), launching a new service, and hiring a new team member. By achieving these S.M.A.R.T. goals, you are making progress towards your larger G.R.E.A.T. goal and keeping yourself accountable along the way.

Using S.M.A.R.T. Goals and G.R.E.A.T. Goals together can be a powerful strategy for achieving success in your firm or even in life. Using these two frameworks, you can design an effective roadmap for success that is both attainable and inspiring for you and your team.

Putting S.M.A.R.T. Goals and G.R.E.A.T. Goals in action

Setting clear and achievable goals is essential for personal and professional success.

Both the S.M.A.R.T. Goals and G.R.E.A.T. Goals frameworks offer effective criteria that can help you achieve both tactical and strategic goals for your firm. While S.M.A.R.T. goals emphasize specific outcomes and measurable results, G.R.E.A.T. goals emphasize professional growth and alignment with your larger mission.

Choosing which framework to use for a specific objective will depend on specific criteria and preferences. But, combining these two frameworks in setting goals for your strategic planning is sure to be a winning combination.

And remember, the key to achieving any goal is to stay committed, focused, and motivated, and remember that success is a journey, not a destination.

Do you need help defining your architecture firm's strategic plan?

At Archmark, we work with small architecture firm owners to create clear strategic plans to help them reach their business objectives. Our strategic planning process has aided 170 small-irm architects to prioritize and reach their strategic goals with clarity and focus.

If you are struggling to achieve momentum in your firm, apply for a free Clarity Call with us today! This 20-minute call is the first step in creating the growth and success you want for your firm.