Goals

The medical transcription profession is perhaps one of the most “measured” professions I know. There seems to be a metric for everything. In order to meet those standards, MTs must have a good method for setting goals. So today’s let explore that a bit, using a well-known system called SMART goals. This works well whether or not your goal is work related. At this time of year, everyone is setting goals for the new year, perhaps one of the most popular being losing weight to get healthier. If you are starting the new credential study course next week, this plan will be a great one to follow as well.

Let’s take a look at using the SMART system of setting goals related to increasing your production or successfully taking the credential study course.

SPECIFIC

Your goal should first be specific. If you’re working on increasing your line count, be specific about how much. It doesn’t work as well to say “I plan to do more lines.” Much better would be to say “I will do 5 more lines each hour.” Consider the same for those of you who are starting the credential study course. Just saying “I will study my lessons” may not get you far. However, setting a goal that says “I’ll spend an hour three times a week on this” would be a better way of doing that!

MEASURABLE

Measurable is simply a way to say how you will know when you’ve accomplished the goal. If you only say you will do more lines, then you don’t know when you’ve reached your goal. There’s nothing really to measure there. By adding “5 more lines each hour,” you have created a goal that you can measure. The same principle would apply to your course: You can measure how many hours you are spending in a week, so make sure you have a measurable goal.

ACHIEVABLE

If your goal isn’t achievable, you only set yourself up to fail. As I browsed some blogs this weekend, I saw a good example of this when someone said they wanted to lose 100 pounds by a special event, that was only two months away! Probably that one isn’t achievable. In thinking about production, saying you will double your production next week probably isn’t achievable either. If you are working full time, it’s not like you can devote 8 hours a day to that new course either. When setting an achievable goal, think about what resources you have available to do it. Be sure that you’re setting yourself up for success by making it a goal you can actually reach.

RELEVANT

Think about why this goal is significant in your life. What is it that makes it important? For those who set a weight loss goal at the first of the year, it becomes important to do it for your health. If you are working to increase your production, it may be as simple as needing to meet a minimum standard. It may also be important because that’s the way you can increase your paycheck. If 2011 is your year to become credentialed, make a list of why that’s important to you. For some, it will mean an increase in pay. For others, it will be the satisfaction of knowing you reached a milestone in your professional life. Be sure your goal includes why it’s relevant.

TIMELY

Here’s where you set the deadline for when your goal will be achieved. It’s important to put a date to this part of the goal so you have a timeline to reach for. If you’re striving for a certain percentage of increase in your production, when will you reach that? If your goal is credentialing, when will you take and pass that test?

SMART goals can really help when we’re setting goals. They keep us on track and make sure we are setting ourselves up for success.

Here’s a copy of a SMART Goal Worksheet to help you in your planning.

What about you? Have you used SMART goals before? What other tips can you offer? Please share your stories in the comments.