Is Your Business Plan Failing Through Lack Of Action?

business-plan-failingWe all make plans .. usually lots of them.

Some are short to-do lists to complete a project or a set of tasks. These are often simple enough that we don’t even need to write them down.   Others are more indepth and need lots more thought. Outside help is sometimes needed if they are of a strategic nature such as a business plan or technical plan.

The simple plans usually get implemented quickly.  This is especially true of the plans we get a thrill out of – like planning a holiday or a dinner with friends.  But what gets in the way when it’s a little more complicated?  How come you can plan and even go on a holiday, yet your business plan stumbles and falters?

One of things we often hear  is  that people don’t have enough time.  They are too busy working IN the business to work ON the business.   Lack of time might sound like a good excuse for not implementing your business plan.  But what happened to “lack of time” when you planned your holiday or fishing trip?

The Real Challenge

Creating the plan isn’t the challenge, the real challenge is doing it – the follow through, the action steps.    It’s the “what” and “by whens” that fall by the wayside.  Lack of planning isn’t the problem, it’s the lack of doing!
 
What’s it going to take to keep the momentum going so that it doesn’t fizzle? Either at the starting blocks or halfway down the track?    If you look at the holiday plan, the follow-through almost happens by default.
 
Other sorts of plans need a different strategy to get them done. A more structured and definitive method. This is the most vital part of your plan  …. the making-it-happen part.  Why would you go to the effort and cost of creating a business plan without a system to make it happen?

If You Want To Accomplish Your Plan … 

1.  Appoint An “Accountability Manager”

This person should keep a record of specific measurable results –  “who” needs to do things “by when”.   Make sure there are action sheets showing what’s going to happen, who’s going to do it, and by when it’s going to get done.

2.  Keep An Eye On Slippage

Track these “by whens” so that people actually walk their talk and do what they’ve agreed to do, in time.  These follow-ups are critical to the success of your plan.

3.  Tackle Your Plan One Bite At A Time

Don’t try to do it all at once.  Work out what part has the highest priority and do that first.  Then find the next highest priority and do that … and so on.  This will help take the “overwhelm” out of a comprehensive plan.

4.  Appoint A “Champion”

Appoint someone to be the champion of your plan.  This could be, but doesn’t have to be, the accountability manager.  The champion will make sure your plan survives, and they’ll help keep it alive in the minds of your staff (and even you).

 

Read our Free Special Report:  How To Choose The Right Coach For Your Game (and where to find him)

 

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