Thinking is a shortcut in some ways. Looking at problems from different angles will lead to different solutions. In this article, we will discuss the SMART rule, a method of goal setting that can help you set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals. In this article, we will explore the meaning, advantages, and applications of the SMART rule to help you better achieve your goals.
STAR Rule：
The STAR rule is a structured method that helps job seekers, educators, lecturers, and others to present their experience and abilities more clearly and logically. Here is how the STAR rule works and how it translates into a description:
S - Situation：Describe the background, including the environment you are in and the problems you face.
T - Task：Explain the task or goal you need to accomplish and the challenges you face.
A - Action：Describe the specific actions you took to solve the problem, including your thought process and practical operations.
R - esult：Show the results of your actions, including positive impacts and possible follow-up effects.
How to use the STAR rule：
Example 1 (Applying for a business manager position)：
S：In 2017, the XX market was in a downturn.
T：I was working as a business development specialist at the time, responsible for business expansion in a certain area, leading a team of 10 people, with the goal of achieving the company’s annual performance.
A：Therefore, I proposed the A plan and led the team to develop new customers.
R：Due to my leadership and execution capabilities, we eventually opened 5 new stores in Taipei, bringing a 200% revenue growth to the company that year.
Example 2 (Explaining work in XX event)：
S：The company recently decided to conduct a comprehensive review of organizational management.
T：The supervisor asked me to complete an employee satisfaction survey within a week.
A：I chose to use a more environmentally friendly and efficient online questionnaire instead of traditional paper questionnaires. I spent a day designing the questionnaire and asked a colleague who is good at web editing to help. We spent two days notifying all employees to fill out the questionnaire via email and collected and analyzed the data within seven days.
R：I submitted the survey results on time, and the supervisor highly praised my online questionnaire method and instructed that this method should be used for employee satisfaction surveys in the future.
Example 3 (Case of explaining PPT)：
S：I made a PPT on new product promotion at the company meeting last Friday.
T：I need to present our new product promotion plan to the company’s executives in 10 minutes.
A：I spent a day preparing the PPT, including product introduction, market analysis, promotion strategy, and budget plan. I also asked colleagues to help check for grammar errors and layout issues.
R：My PPT was well received by the executives, who highly praised my promotion strategy and budget plan and decided to implement it immediately.
From STAR to START：
So, in fact, on the basis of STAR, you can add T to become the START rule, The last T stands for Thinking, that is, what are your thoughts on this matter? What did you do well? Where did you do poorly? How can you improve next time? Where can this experience be applied in the future?
However, whether it is STAR or START, they are just tools to help you organize your thoughts, independent thinking is always more convincing than mechanically applying templates, this is the most important point