Developing Action Plan skill
(Emotional Management for Personal & Professional Growth Series)
On the topic of structured problem solving for chronic issues in the organization, we have discussed the importance of data, data analysis, getting into causes, and selling the ideas to others. In selling ideas to others, each manager must learn one critical skill: "making an action plan."
Action plan :
Action plan :
- An action plan is planning the action in terms of what, who, when, and sometimes explaining by how.
- The action plan is about articulating what needs to be done to solve the problem, who is supposed to be accountable for the action and when the action is to be completed.
- It is all about setting the direction for others to solve the problem
Making an action plan is nothing but the manager's conviction on the solution part.
One typical pattern i observe in many young managers is that they are good at data collection, analyzing the data, and identifying the causes, but stuck at converging on the solution part with conviction.
Why are we stuck in making the action plan stage?
The simple reason is uncertainty about the future outcome, fear about the consequence of failure, and worry too much about others on rejection. That is natural for anyone, but one who overcomes it emerges as a better manager/leader in their profession.
There are many techniques/formats available like 5W1H / 3W1H, which can be learned as knowhow.
However, the lack of courage is pulling us into making the consolidated action plan skill, which we can develop with awareness and by practice whenever the opportunity comes.
Benefits of developing the skill :
When we improve the craft of making an action plan,
- our communication or articulation ability is increasing even in day-to-day conversations
- enhances our comprehensive skill in any complex situation
- Team perceive us as a leader as they need someone to guide them on things to be done
Hence, developing the skill of making an action plan is an art that can be developed by learning the techniques and practicing.
