“It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.” ~Eleanor Roosevelt
Some people despise planning. They prefer to jump in thinking they’ll figure it out as they go.
I understand that time and mental space are valuable resources and flexibility is a critical organization skill. But, rarely have I seen a first round idea be the best, brightest or most useful opportunity for an organization.
Engaging colleagues in exploration of ideas almost always results in a stronger concept. Here are a few questions to consider as you examine current programs or explore new ideas and opportunities.
The basics are always a good place to start:
- What are we trying to achieve?
- Who are we attempting to serve?
- Which organization or division goals will this advance?
Maybe ask a couple new questions and see where the discussion leads you.
- What is the most significant challenge to achieving ____?
- What is right with this idea?
- What will success look like?
Plans are helpful to ensuring good investment of organizational resources. However, a truly a successful organization is one that is strong enough to develop a plan, flexible enough to monitor and navigate the environment and smart enough to refine and execute a change in plans.
Jen, great article! One thing I’ve found that organizations struggle with is that flexibility piece – once you make a plan, how do you keep it relevant, top of mind, and adaptable? What questions or processes have you found are good for that flexibility?
Great questions. Living the plan and being flexible are challenging for many organizations. A few things I’ve seen work are using questions such as “how does this (new product, resource, etc) advance our strategic goals?” in the decision making process. Or to keep a fresh perspective, discussing “how have member/market needs changed in the last __ (time span)?” or “what assumptions are we making about ___?” It is always helpful to consider “when was the last time we invited new people (or people with different perspectives and experiences) to be part of the conversation?”