- Specific
- Objectives need to be clear and detailed.
- Measurable
- Results need to be measurable.
- Outcomes must be what the person really wants.
- Outcomes should produce tangible rewards.
- Agreement
- The people who have to make it work need to agree to it.
- Realistic
- The person has to believe it is possible to achieve. This will depend on:
- The resource the person has I has access to.
- The confidence the person has in themselves.
- The person has to believe it is possible to achieve. This will depend on:
- Time-specific
- Deadlines for achieving each stage should be set. The ultimate goal can also be given a deadline. These should be in the foreseeable future. Small enough to be handled. Large enough to show results.
- Supportive back-up
- A helping relationship is useful for all stages of change and the details of what kind of support is on offer needs to be clearly spelled out.