Take control of your career with the SMART framework

Do you know the feeling of having meaningful goals yet making little progress? As a professional coach in Switzerland, I often see my clients stall on their bigger goals and struggle to progress because life feels busy and overwhelming.

This guide turns “I’ll do it later” into a clear, motivating plan, one steady step at a time. I’m reintroducing the SMART framework, not just to write goals, but to sharpen focus, restore energy, and help you achieve them with ease and flow.

Quick refresher: What are SMART goals?

SMART goals transform a wish into a clear, actionable plan. They help you focus your effort on visible progress, without fluff or disappointment. The SMART acronym stands for: 

• Specific: a clear outcome
• Measurable: a number or observable result you can track
• Achievable: a realistic first step
• Relevant: aligned with what matters now
• Time-bound: a deadline you can hit 

“A goal without a deadline is just a dream.”- Napoleon Hill

Why do SMART goals matter?

Clarity reduces friction; you spend less time overthinking and more time doing. Once a goal becomes SMART, I often see three shifts:

• Momentum: a measurable target turns a vague hope into a finish line you can move toward today.
• Boundaries: relevance helps you prioritise and say “not now” to tasks that look urgent but do not matter.
• Sanity: realistic scope prevents overpromising and protects quality, leaving you with energy and a sense of achievement.

How to write a SMART goal: A 5-step template you can use today

Here is how you can write a SMART goal:

Step 1: Pick your "stuck" goal 

Choose one current goal that feels stuck or that you keep postponing because you don’t have time, don’t know where to start, or don’t enjoy it. Name it. 

Step 2: The two-minute diagnosis 

Why are you stuck? Is your goal...

• Boring or unmotivating? It’s likely a problem with Relevant or Time-bound. Your goal isn't connected to a deeper purpose, or has no urgency, so it just drifts.
• Overwhelming, confusing, or complicated? The problem is with Specific, Measurable, and Achievable. Your goal is too big, too vague, or has no accountability, so your brain avoids it. 

Book a free 45-minute consultation with Anne-Laure

Step 3: The SMART rebuild 

Once you know what to improve, you can rebuild your goals into a stronger version.

Specific

This is what “done” looks like. The more specific, the less your brain has to think later. 

• Ask yourself: What exactly do I want to accomplish? What does the finished outcome look like?
• Instead of: "Get better at my job" = vague, pressured, set up for disappointment.
• Try: "Lead one client project from start to finish successfully and on budget." 

Measurable

With no metric, you can't track your progress. No progress means no motivation. You remain stuck and frustrated.

• Ask yourself: Which number or milestone will let me track progress? Create a check-in list: at the end of the day, week, or month, can I answer, “Yes, I did it”?
• Instead of: "Network more" = easy to procrastinate, no meaningful action.
• Try: "Invite two colleagues for a virtual coffee chat each month." 

Achievable

Oversized goals lead to delays. They become a big, overwhelming mountain to climb. Instead, keep your ambition, focus on the first task, and start hiking, one step at a time.

• Ask yourself: What is the smallest, non-scary next action I can confidently do with my time and energy? Break it down to a five-minute task if needed.
• Instead of: "Learn German" = ambitious but defeating.
• Try: "This week I will spend 30 minutes booking a German trial class." 

Relevant

This is your "why" that will give you the energy and motivation you need. If it’s an assigned goal, connect it to the opportunities it brings you.

• Ask yourself: Why do I truly want this? How does this align with my values and aspirations? Which part is important to me?
• Instead of: "I should learn German" = not inspiring; it sounds like “If I don’t, I’m not good enough”.
• Try: "I want to learn German, so I feel integrated at lunch with my new team." 

Time-bound

A realistic deadline creates positive pressure and turns “someday” into a plan.

• Ask yourself: By when will I complete this specific step in a way that is challenging but not too stressful?
• Instead of: "I'll start networking soon" = boring, hard.
• Try: "I’ll have my two coffee chats by the end of this month." 

Step 4: Putting it all together

With your letters revisited, build your complete SMART goal using this template: By [date], I want to [specific, achievable outcome]. I will track [metric] every [interval]. I want this so that I [relevance]. 

Step 5: Give yourself the means to succeed

Don’t stop here. Support action and ensure your success. Set reminders, use sticky notes, tell a friend, share it publicly, hire a coach, make it easier, simpler, and more fun!

How will you help yourself?

The SMART framework is a powerful tool for taking control of your career and ambitions. You are building your new life in Switzerland. New steps can feel hard. You don’t need more pressure on yourself; you need clarity, momentum, and steady support. How does your rebuilt goal feel now?