SMART Goals that Actually Stick

January 5, 2026

Happy New Year! Or more to the point… Happy Refresh – a good a time as ever to re-focus on what’s important

If you’re anything like me, you might find the whole New Year’s resolution thing a bit whatevs. They get a bad rep, don’t they?

But it’s not that the resolutions themselves are rubbish—it’s that we’re not great at keeping the promises we make to ourselves and so we say – with evidence!:

Resolutions don’t work so they aren’t worth doing…

That’s where a bit of science can give us a nudge.

At 100Brix, we’ve created a whole set of science-backed postcards for people managers—bite-sized concepts with real-life impact. One of those is on SMART goals.

You’ve probably come across the SMART acronym before, but don’t let that familiarity fool you into thinking they are old school. They are an oldie but a goodie. Totally still hold water.

And using SMART with your team to re-contract on their objectives for 2026 – or to think about what you want for yourself in 2026, might just help turn a good intention into something that actually happens this year.

Here’s the science behind why SMART still works:

✅ Writing down your goals makes you 42% more likely to achieve them.

✅ Clear, measurable goals boost success by a whopping 76%.

✅ Sharing those goals with someone—a coach, mentor, or your team—raises completion rates by 65%.

(Source Dr Gail Matthews: Dominican University of California Study)

So resolutions aren’t the problem—it’s how we set them that matters. Whether you’re setting personal goals, team targets, or giving your leadership style a refresh after a bit of festive downtime, here’s a refresher on how to keep things SMART (and useful):

What does SMART really mean (in the real world)?

S – Specific

Define exactly what success looks like. If you can’t explain your goal in one line to a friend who doesn’t really know your job, it’s probably too vague.

M – Measurable

Make progress visible—with numbers, milestones or markers. Ask yourself: How will I know I’ve done it?

Track your wins both at the end and along the way.

A – Attainable

Stretch yourself, but don’t snap.

Your goal should feel challenging but doable—not “win the Olympics by Friday”.

R – Relevant

Link your goal to something bigger: your values, your purpose, your team’s mission.

Ask: Why does this matter now?

T – Time-bound

Give the brain a deadline—it helps create urgency.

We say: Without a “by when,” it simply won’t get done.

Whether you’re setting goals for yourself or helping a team refocus this year, just use SMART as a quick checklist. Stick it on your desk. Run each goal through it. If it passes the test, you’re already giving yourself and your team a better shot at follow-through—even when you’re not in the room.

🎯 Want to go deeper?

This SMART goals refresher is part of our BrixSix concept—6 bite-sized, science-backed learning bricks, delivered in just 6 hours. It’s the foundation of our Cornerstones programme at 100Brix — designed to help new people managers lead confidently from day one.

There’s also a book on the way to support this BrixSix programme – watch this space!

If your team is kicking off the year with new roles, new responsibilities, or just a need for new energy, this is where we start.

Because clear, purposeful goal-setting isn’t just for January—it’s the first step to building a culture of growth and trust that lasts all year.

And as a parting shot…

This year, don’t ditch resolutions. Just SMARTen them up.

And if you want to start building leadership that sticks? We’ve got a brick (or six) with your name on it!

And want to read more – or go deep with the science?

Dr Gail Matthew’s: Dominican University California. Psychology-faculty-conference-presentations/3/

Dr Gail Matthews presents research showing that writing down goals and sharing them with others significantly increases your likelihood of achieving them.

👉 Study Highlights Strategies for Achieving Goals (Kitzu summary of Matthews’ research)A easy to read but detailed report on the actual design and results of Dr Gail Matthews’ Dominican University research showing writing goals, action plans, accountability and progress reporting all increase goal success rates.