Planning, partnerships and possibilities
How do you feel about planning? Are you on-it organised or more of a free-flyer? Do you make a plan and keep referring to it? Or do you start with the best intentions and gradually lose focus?
Every day is the start of a new year
I think there’s nothing quite like having a good plan in place to give you energy, focus and clarity of mind. I’m currently in full swing preparing and planning for next year. The lull of Christmas gives me time to stop and think carefully about what I would like to achieve over the next twelve months. Then I employ the mindset that each day is the beginning of a new year.
It’s all too easy to make a plan and file it away only for it never to be seen again. So I treat my annual plan in a similar way to my training approach. I make it easy to review, refer to and achieve.
The benefits of having a planning buddy
A plan keeps you on track by setting out all the important things you want to achieve. But you have to be disciplined to make them all happen.
If discipline isn’t your strength, you might find it helpful to involve a trusted friend or colleague to keep you on track - and inject a little bit of fun too! Your planning partner can point out what’s working well and support you through the lows. They may offer new insights and suggestions you may never have even considered.
Whoever you choose to support you, your partnership needs to be clearly set up and boundaries established.
Agree your contract:
What is it you’re striving to achieve? Your partner doesn’t need to know all the details if there’s confidential stuff you don’t want to share.
What measures will demonstrate that you’re on track? Share these with your partner.
What is your role in this plan?
What is their role in this plan? This is important. You need to agree when and where you will meet so it’s a private meeting, not a social gathering.
The partnership approach to planning has worked well for me. When I’ve involved a trusted colleague or friend to help me achieve my plan we’ve accomplished way beyond my expectations.
How not to fall at the first hurdle
To blend your plan seamlessly into your weekly and daily activities it needs to be accessible. If your plan sits in a folder that you don’t naturally look at or review, chances are when you review your progress, you’ll be disappointed. At this point, that trusted partner can be invaluable as they remind and guide you towards what you set out to do.
There’s nothing more disappointing than setting out a desired outcome and realising that you you’ve made very little progress towards achieving it. Weekly planning and daily discipline is SO important. Give your plan the time it warrants to make your goals a reality, and enjoy spending time on those crucial tasks.
If you struggle with where to start with planning, you might find these tips helpful.
What do you want to achieve? Take time to think and be clear about this in your mind.
Decide on the key steps you need to take to make this happen.
What will you notice as you progress towards your outcome?
How will you know you have achieved what you’re trying to do?
What will you think and feel about your achievement? This really helps to keep you motivated.
Enjoy the thought of the possibility
It’s exciting to think what the next year might hold for your career or your business. I really enjoy this stage of the planning process. I let my mind wander through the possibilities and hold on to that feeling of excitement as I capture my thoughts.
Once I’m clear on the steps I need to take to make success happen, I write these in my diary. I refer to my diary each week to ensure I’m on track. Weekly planning guides my daily tasks and gives me a sense of progress and enjoyment. Achieving my plan gives me energy and that feel good factor.
This approach was critical when I was writing my book. People often ask me how I did it. The very simple answer is one sentence, one chapter at a time. That quote ‘how do you eat an elephant?’ comes to mind. The answer is ‘one mouthful at a time’. Breaking down tasks into small chunks or mouthfuls really does work.
So, who will you choose to be your planning partner? What are your possibilities and how will you make them a reality? Wherever you’re heading, enjoy every stage of the process.