Option 1: I'll see where I end up
You let yourself be carried away by the wind and the current and see where you end up. That can be wonderful for a lazy holiday. You can do whatever you want, it doesn't matter. Let yourself be surprised! Maybe you float to a beautiful beach or float to the infinity of the open sea. But if you're not careful, you might end up on the rocks...
Option 2: I determine my course myself
You set the course to reach a destination of your choice. Now it matters what you do! Which course are you going to sail? Is your ship ready? Are you ready? Do you have a good view of the conditions, such as the weather, currents, rock formations below the water surface, other sailing ships and expectations of people on the quay? Do you have a clear idea of what you will do in concrete terms to prepare and start the journey? In short: you need a good plan.
Making a good plan seems obvious. Yet it happens far too infrequently. Of course, in our daily practice we stumble over missions, visions, policy documents and strategic plans. They are made with the best of intentions, but they rarely pay off. How come? These are the plans we see a lot:
- The plan without direction. You know them, forty pages with rumbling stories about opportunities, the importance of sustainability and innovation, with an eye for people, social interests and of course world peace. It's all true, you can't be against it, but there are no real choices in it.
- The plan that has to be done by the boss. Every year you make a department plan, because without a plan there is no money. Do not think too much, because the daily hectic calls. Those plans and reports are just a hassle.
- The shadow plan. There is a plan, but we don't live it. The hidden agenda is much more important.
- The outdated plan. The plan was perfect. Unfortunately, the world has changed and our plan has remained the same. So it's no use to you anymore.
- The plan for the next minute. Whoever shouts the loudest or is most convincing wins. Anyone have a good idea and even some cash? Hop, we're running after it quickly.
You probably recognize the examples. So making plans is not that easy. But we are going to change that with this book. First, let's define what a good plan is. A good plan helps you in three areas:
Planning: the preparation
A good start is half the work. By investing time in making a plan, you are well prepared for your trip. You don't immediately throw the ropes loose, but think carefully first.
Do: the implementation
The plan states what you are going to do. It contains a list of actions. Because you have thought about which actions are important in advance, you can immediately get to work. The plan provides guidance to determine again and again what is important. Don't do what isn't in the plan.
Learning and adjusting: the evaluation
You make a plan with the knowledge and insights of that moment. Each plan contains assumptions about the environment and the expected results. It must be shown in practice whether these assumptions are correct. We can already give you the answer: no! Every plan is obsolete at some point.
A good plan is always a living plan. Evaluate the results of your actions and determine if you need to adjust your plan. This way, your plan is always up to date and acts as a compass for your journey. This also keeps you agile to respond to unexpected opportunities (a beautiful bay) or threats (severe weather on the way). Don't do what isn't in the plan. But you can put it in your plan, if you do it deliberately.