What is better in times of change, to plan or not to plan? That is the question that you probably have been asking yourself in recent weeks.
I want to share a proposal, based on my own experience and ideas from some experts in the area of defining, planning and achieving goals.
“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.”
Benjamin Franklin
Although I believe that the starting point to define your goals and actions is a powerful and compelling vision of the future, without a plan to reach it you will never make it happen.
Everything is created twice, the first time in the creator’s mind through his imagination and the second in reality through his action.
To make your vision come true you need to take intentional action, and to take intentional action you need to define the path you will take towards your vision. All this translates into having a plan of how you will get from where you are to where you want to go.
“Planning is bringing the future into the present so that we can do something about it now.”
Alan Lakein
When everything changes quickly, you need a plan more than ever. An agile plan that allows you, taking the helm of what is under your control, navigate the turbulent waters of change and get closer to the safe harbour of your goals and your vision.
The key is to be clear on: What do you want and What is within your control?
You cannot control what your government, clients, boss, partner or children do. You only control what you do and how you respond to the day-to-day challenges.
When you have a clear vision of what you would like to create and plan how you will make it come true, it becomes easier to make decisions and act every day to create it, since that is under your control.
You will be clear about your priorities, you will know what to say YES or NO, where to invest your time, energy, attention and money.
“Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out.”
Robert Collier
Agile Planning
In changing times, it is best to use agile planning. To do this, you must leave behind the annualized planning mentality and with the long-term vision and an approximate roadmap, plan short-term goals and actions.
I propose to plan as if your year was of 12 weeks.
This way you can adjust the plan to the changes that, although outside of your control, have an impact on your plan and goals and to the results of the actions you are taking, without waiting for 1 or more years to assess your results.
Decalogue of Agile Planning:
- Powerful, exciting long-term vision.
- Approximate roadmap of the pathway to it.
- Short-term goals on that pathway (No more than 3).
- Tactics and actions for each of these goals (choose the ones with the greatest potential).
- Expiry dates for each tactic and action.
- Progress and result indicators for each goal.
- Weekly and daily planning of your actions.
- Commitment to your daily priorities.
- Weekly evaluation of results and adjustment of the plan, if necessary.
- Celebrate your accomplishments, big or small.
“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in your life to celebrate.”
Oprah Winfrey
If you want to know more about the agile planning process that allows you to achieve in 12 weeks more than what you usually achieve in a year, let’s have a virtual coffee to talk.
