Planning is a critical task in every profession.  Whether the assignment is teaching, sales, farming, home building…whatever, the responsibility for preparing and having a good PLAN of action for your initiative is just plain important.

So, as I began considering factors to discuss in this week’s TRIPLE III TIME message, I realized that many Planning for a PLAN actions have changed over my career years… and that maybe a special TOP 10 in this professional development area might be the best way to go!  But remember these TOP 10 considerations come to you from a consultant’s mindset:

1. Who wants the PLAN…who cares if it’s just Ok or Great?
2. Will people care if it’s your idea…or should it be theirs?
3. Remember a lot of PLAN narrative is “old news”…bullet points are a solid option.
4. Consider “immediate gratification” components…they initiate interest.
5. No one “goes-it-alone” in completing a project…so include partnerships in your PLAN.
6. Offer information on past successful PLAN achievements if appropriate (they are like references in a resume).
7. Use creative, visioning terms in your PLAN (create pictures with your words).
8. Determine if the PLAN needs to be about “parts” of your organization…or more about the whole to be successful.
9. Both TIME and MONEY are critical PLAN factors…give them appropriate attention.
10. Finally, discussion about being FLEXIBLE and SPECIAL have a place in PLANS…they always matter.

Effectively and efficiently Planning for a PLAN is a professional development skill-set that may be used daily.  Maybe re-read this TOP 10 with that thought in mind!