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.![Red Yellow Green](https://www.rhythmsystems.com/hs-fs/hub/116436/file-16488291-jpg/images/stop_light.jpg?width=123&height=146&name=stop_light.jpg)
- 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?
![Learn to build focus, alignment and accountability; read Execute Without Drama by Patrick Thean](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/116436/12e27a14-8c83-4e46-a7e1-cef934eb4c0e.png)