


TOOL: FAST BEATS SMART™
A BETTER WAY TO SET AND ACHIEVE GOALS.
Traditional SMART goals aren’t enough to keep today’s teams aligned and moving at pace. FAST goals are Frequently reviewed, Ambitious, Specific, and Transparent to help your team sprint at the start of the quarter so you don’t scramble at the end.
Why it Works
RESEARCH-BASED APPROACH
Research from MIT’s Strategic Agility Project found that organizations using FAST goals outperform those relying only on SMART goals. Why? Because FAST goals:
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Keep focused on what matters most.
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Link performance feedback to metrics.
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Provide guidance for key decisions.
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Clarify what “done” really looks like.
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Minimize sandbagging and surface what isn’t working.
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Build accountability through transparency and peer pressure.
HOW TO DO IT
Once your team masters the art of setting FAST Rocks, watch as they elevate their performance.
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START EARLY – ID obstacles and resources up front.
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SET BENCHMARKS – Track progress in weekly meetings.
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WORK AS A TEAM – Hold each other accountable.
Pinnacle Principles™
In Play
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