When thinking about our annual plans, I have long been an advocate for on-going assessment and adjustments. However, I still think there’s value in a deliberate mid-point checkup. Today I want to share some of the checkup questions I’m asking myself six months into 2013.
Before I get to the questions, a few words to frame the issue of personal plans seems appropriate…
Plans are to serve us not the other way around.
Plans are to help us maximize our influence and our opportunities. If your plan doesn’t do that, you need to change it.
Success may not be 100% completion of your plan. If that’s what success looked like, we could all set the bar so low we’d be a “success.”
Success is you looking back and saying my plan helped me grow and contribute at a higher level.
The truth is we tend to overvalue plans and undervalue today. Use your plan to make your todays more fruitful.
Executing your plans is hard, but that’s where the value lies. Peter Drucker may have had it right… again. He said it like this:
“Plans are only good intentions unless they immediately degenerate into hard work.”
So, how are you doing with your 2013 plan? Here are my top 10 mid-year questions:
1. Where am I relative to my plan? On track or off track?
2. Which portions of my plan are unfolding as envisioned?
3. What’s not worked so well and why?
4. Based on what I know today, should I consider amending my plan ?
5. Do I need to make adjustments in my goals? If so, what does that look like?
6. Do I need to make adjustments to my calendar?
7. What do I want to be sure to accomplish in the next six months?
8. Are there goals or activities in my current plan I want to eliminate?
9. What grade would I give myself here at the mid-term?
10. What do I need to change to bring up my year-end grade?
Planning makes us think; planning helps us be more strategic and more deliberate. Well-conceived personal plans can help us be better stewards of what’s been entrusted to us.
With that in mind, still hold your plan loosely. Don’t become a prisoner to your plan. Think deeply about what you want to accomplish and who you want to become – then jump in and have fun![GLS_Shield]
Love the post Mark! Plans are important to help keep us on track, and I’m an advocate. However, we must remember the scripture of Proverbs 19:21, “Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” Plans must never override Purpose. Passions come and go, but Purpose remains forever. So, a question I will add to your list will be, “What is the Lord’s overall purpose for my life, and how are my plans connected to that overarching purpose from the One who knows me best?”
Again, thanks for your post! Really good stuff!!
Thank you, Keith. I think all great plans begin with purpose – personally and at the organization level. Thanks for reminding us all. Mark
Going into a week long vacation, I needed this post. It gives me something to focus on, and evaluate during that time. My personal plan. Then when I get back, I can look at my job and career plan.
Stephanie, how was your vacation? I hope my questions stimulated some great reflection on the last 6 months. I trust the second half of the year will be even stronger for you. Mark
Thanks for opening up my eyes. I did set my plans for the year and somehow along the way I was loosing track. I have now realized that I almost became a prisoner in my own plan. I want to resolve it by going back with these 10 questions in mind.
It will help me accomplish what i did set for my personal development and at place of work.
Thanks, Geofrey! I hope you’ll continue to find value in my posts. I look forward to seeing you on a future visit to Kenya! Mark