Achieving Your Goals: The "A" in SMART

Achieving Your Goals: The "A" in SMART

Over the past few weeks, we've explored the "S" (Specific) and "M" (Measurable) aspects of SMART goals. Now, let's dive into the "A" for Achievable. This means assessing whether your company has the necessary resources and skills to reach the goal.

Do You Have the Means?

Consider a goal like training staff in First Aid. To achieve this, you'll need a qualified instructor and the right equipment. Does your company have the budget to train an instructor and purchase equipment, or would it be more feasible to contract an instructor?

Cost is always a significant factor. Think about potential overtime expenses and indirect costs, such as the impact on customer service.

Breaking Down Ambitious Goals

Let's say your goal is to conduct one hotel evacuation drill per year. This seemingly large task can be broken down into smaller, achievable increments:

1.    Identify desired outcomes for each department.

2.    Create a checklist for each department to meet those outcomes.

3.    Each department trains its staff using the checklist. Instead of one long training session, supervisors can conduct quick, daily safety briefs over several days.

For example, in housekeeping, you could hold five-minute daily reviews on evacuation procedures. One week, focus on administration (master keys, employee roster, room preparation). The next, cover laundry staff (linen carts for emergency use, turning off equipment, handling special machinery). The following weeks, focus on room attendants and public area attendants. By using this method, you could train about a quarter of your employees in a month or two without incurring overtime costs.

Strategic Scheduling for Success

Choosing the right date and time for drills is crucial for both safety and hotel operations. Coordinate with your Sales & Marketing team to identify slow periods. For instance, Golden Week (around April) and Chinese New Year (January/February) are typically busy times to avoid.

Also, check the dry season to minimize the possibility of rain during outdoor exercises. Consult with the Front Desk and Restaurants to minimize guest impact. You might even consider inviting your fire alarm contractor and the fire department to observe the evacuation.

For a hotel in Guam, a fire evacuation drill in March (dry season), at 1:30 PM (after the lunch crowd, with check-outs complete and new guests not arriving until 3 PM), between Tuesday and Thursday (lower occupancy and fewer check-outs compared to Friday through Monday) would likely be an ideal time.

By breaking down large goals and strategically planning, you can achieve significant safety improvements, such as ensuring 24-hour availability of trained first aid personnel and preparing your hotel for an evacuation.

Our next article will delve into the "R" in SMART: Realistic Goals.

Reference: Hotel Fire Emergency Plan Sample Security - Hotel Fire Emergency Plan Sample - SetupMyHotel