Examples of Project Goals and Objectives: SMART Short-Term and Long-Term Goals
- Curtis Dawson
- Feb 2, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 11, 2024

You will be successful at work by setting short-term and long-term goals. Employees must use tactics that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timely. These tactics create the SMART acronym. For example, this tool can be used to determine whether a lucrative project is attainable for your company.
SMART project goals and objectives need to be defined. We need to determine what it means to be specific. Goals demonstrate what you want to complete. A salesman said that he wants to sell more cars this year. He needs to explain how he will meet that goal. He determines that he will meet that goal by improving his verbal skills in order to precisely acknowledge the emotions of consumers.
Goals must also be measurable and the sales industry serves as an effective example. The salesman believes that the dealership will increase sales through advertising and he estimates that he will sell about 20 BMWs through online marketing. The measurable goal is to sell 20 sedans in one month. Benchmarks provide guidance for implementing strategies that enable employees to attain short-term and long-term objectives.
The next focal point addresses achievable goals. Goals must realistic. Can the salesman sell 20 sedans in one month? Marketers need to know their tools. This is where the advertising campaign comes into play. Social media marketing aimed at the right demographic will make goals achievable. Demographics provide insights to target audiences.
Our tools for success must be relevant. Will selling 300 vehicles by the end of the month help the dealership solve their financial problems? The dealership will prioritize the relevancy of instruments that include advertising efforts. These relevant tactics will lead to successful outcomes for project goals and objectives.
Goals must be timely. Our solution must identify short-term and long-term objectives. Managers must set realistic benchmarks – each salesman needs to sell 60 sedans by March 31. The salesman will attain this goal by breaking down large projects into manageable tasks. Employees improve efficiency by giving an individual task a specific due date. Salesmen will meet timely goals by providing consumers with specific value propositions.
The successful salesman possess agility and he determines outcomes by analyzing strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. This tool helps him anticipate pitfalls and capitalize on company goals and objectives. This approach will put additional money in his pocket and lead to promotions.
The dealership has seen a decline in sales. The effectiveness of their advertising campaigns has declined. Their lease expired and the lessor wants to significantly increase the cost of their contract. The organization has tenured employees and their salaries impact company overhead. How can the dealership solve these issues? SMART techniques will provide tactics for identifying and resolving these problematic situations.
Managers value employees with effective problem-solving skills. Employees can enhance their problem-solving techniques by roleplaying and they can simulate a crisis by asking “what if?” This is how our dealership prepares for overcoming potential obstacles.
The importance of research cannot be underestimated. The salesman must profile other dealerships with specific and similar problems. Examples of project goals and objectives will provide a compass that points the dealership in the right direction. Our team must be flexible, adaptable, optimistic and creative.
“What if” the dealer must make payments to meet compliance regulations? The cost of compliance can be a burden on a company. Situations can be complex; however, SMART techniques address all situations. Employees need to master SMART tactics to fulfill short-term and long-term goals to increase productivity and to facilitate troubleshooting.