What is a Plan?
There is beauty in spontaneity, flexibility and being in the present moment. These characteristics can serve us well as we bob and weave around things coming at us or take advantage of unannounced opportunities. We want to maintain some nimbleness in a fluid, process-driven world. And, for most people and situations, relying solely on our ability to adapt to get us through life’s twists and turns may set us up for inefficiency, ineffectiveness and frustration.
A plan is a specific roadmap to get you from point A to point Z. The plan typically incorporates timelines, resources, budgets, goals, actions and other items that can provide direction and support in getting from here to there. It can be very detailed and comprehensive, more of a sketch, or a combination (which is usually how things start). It can contain sub-plans. In most cases, we know where we are beginning and have a good idea of the desired end destination, but the stones along the way can be obscured or unknown as we take those first steps.
Here is where the planning and the spontaneity can work in tandem. We only know what we know when we know it. We can attempt to anticipate barriers and obstacles on the road to our final destination, and even with good front-end planning new options can present themselves along the way. This is why a good plan has the following:
Simplicity and clarity
A reasonable destination or end result
A basic timeline
A list of tools and resources available/needed
Some alternative paths
Peripheral vision--knowledge and understanding of what’s adjacent to the plan
An “abort” feature that can bring about a pause or stop
Application of new knowledge, skills and abilities along the way
Plans also help keep those who struggle with accountability on track. Have you ever been over-committed/scheduled? Run into prioritization issues? Felt overwhelmed in general? For many people, having a documented and/or publicized plan of action really helps them stay on course. It may not solve issues with every distraction or decision to be made, but it can be a strong partner for staying focused and timely.
Here is the story of how we got to where we are today… We began with a vision that contained an end result (coaching and consulting business) and a starting point (independent practitioners). We crafted our basic plan, and like many people who are creating something fun and cool, we had LOTS of ideas about what to incorporate or thoughts on how things could go. We maintained the focus through the basic structure of our plan, but we did take a few turns and climb a few hills on the way to getting here; some detours were because something unanticipated came up, and some were due to us wanting to explore an option before making a final commitment (call it a “side adventure”...). See? A combination of planning and spontaneity. And, because we had a written plan and our partnership, we have been able to stay accountable and generally on track. We followed our basic plan and maintained focus even through some distractions enroute.
It’s also important to weave back in the readiness for change . When you have an opportunity to create the vision and craft the plan, the motivation and overall preparedness leads to better engagement. See our post on change readiness for more insight.
We understand the complexities that can come with change. We have crafted successful plans for ourselves and others. We know what it takes to create a clear and inviting path to a desired destination. We can help and have fun along the way!
Plan Well,
Amy and Holly
