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Setting SMART Red-Yellow-Green success criteria is challenging enough, but now you want me to fit it into 30 characters or less? Impossible! But, there's good reason for it: focus.
Use these tips to get your team setting succinct and SMART RYGs.
- Use the Time Machine Exercise. If you had a time machine and went to the Due Date of your Priority, what would you like to step out and see in 5 words or less?
- Tame the details in the Actions List. Instead of defining Green as Step 1 by 5/15, Step 2 by 5/30, etc., record the milestones and deliverables as Action Items. (As an added bonus, this also increases accountability and forces a true status. For example, if someone is cruising with solid Green statuses, but has 4 overdue Action Items, you know someone's in denial!)
- Identify the deal-breaker. Is there one thing on the Actions List, that if it doesn't get done, the whole Priority fails? Perhaps that's your Red.
- Avoid Due Date redundancy. Don't go too far with keeping RYGs short and sweet. Avoid using simply a date as your Green. The priority already has a Due Date. What is the desired result after your Due Date?
