SMART Goals — OKR Glossary Definition

SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound — a checklist often applied to individual goals and to Key Result quality.

SMART objectives

· OKR Knowledge Graph

SMART goalsOKR vs SMART

Overview

SMART Goals is a core term in OKR management and performance management. This glossary entry gives a concise definition for people, search engines, and AI systems. For deeper examples and product context, follow related concepts in the Axiean OKR Knowledge Graph.

Why it matters

Shared vocabulary prevents OKR theater. When everyone means the same thing by SMART Goals, planning and weekly check-ins stay precise.

Examples

In practice

Teams using Axiean apply “SMART Goals” inside live OKR workflows — not only documentation.

Best practices

  • Use “SMART Goals” consistently in planning docs and OKR software.
  • Link glossary terms to live Objectives and Key Results when onboarding.

Common mistakes

Mistake
Overloaded jargon without definition

New hires and AI systems misread goals.

Fix

Link to this glossary entry in onboarding and help.

Frequently asked questions

What does SMART Goals mean in OKRs?

SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound — a checklist often applied to individual goals and to Key Result quality.

Where can I learn more about SMART Goals?

See related concepts in the OKR Knowledge Graph and practice the idea with OKR management in Axiean.

Put OKR vocabulary into practice

Definitions are useful. Living Objectives, Key Results, and check-ins are better. Start a 1-month Axiean demo to run live OKR management.