Action Plans Accelerate Results

Collaboration is way more effective with a simple execution plan  

Any time you have a team collaborating to achieve an outcome, an action plan is critical. It guides alignment on a unified approach and accelerates meaningful results. Depending on the size of the initiative, it can be a simple list or it can be a full blown project management system. One method does not “fit all”.  The best approach is the simplest tool for the scope of the work. 

Regardless of the tool, key components to include in the plan:

• Objective (why is this needed, how important is it)
• Goals and success metrics (what does winning look like)
• Defined scope to drive focus (what's in, what's out)
• Pilot (how can we achieve a quick win and accelerate learning)
• Key milestones with one clear owner (what are the big overarching critical pieces)
• Action items with clearly defined outcomes, due dates, and one owner (who does what by when)

Action Plan Best Practices:

• Design a team that has diverse perspectives, strong contributors, and is a manageable size (3-7 is optimal to enable speed and collaboration)
• Review the draft with your key stakeholders. Invite feedback and incorporate their ideas in to the plan.
• Load the document in a shared location that is easily accessible by all team members
• Establish standard status reporting processes and channels, including meeting cadences to drive progress and visibility across all impacted groups (working team, SteerCo, leadership updates, etc.)
• If an item is off track (red or yellow status), include the plan is to get it back to green
• Highlight progress of significant achievements and people that are making the difference 

Living a Life Full of Meaning

 Highlights from Man's Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl

The way that Raj Sisodia spoke of Man’s Search for Meaning during a presentation for Conscious Capitalism spoke directly to my soul. I decided right then and there that I was going to read it. To this day, it is the most impactful book I've ever read.

Frankl was a neurologist who lived in Nazi internment camps for 3 years. He paints a picture of what it felt like to be separated from family, lose everything including freedom, and witness heartbreaking cruelty. He explored how different people reacted to the torture. 

Frankl found a high correlation between a person's level of hope and their health. Those who were hopeless had declined immunity levels and experienced rapid mental and physical decay.  Prisoners with hope had a fundamentally different attitude toward life, resulting in better health. 

Even in the states of extreme torture, some prisoners felt hopeful and that their life had meaning. It is the seeking of achieving a goal that creates purpose, not a tensionless state. Having this goal to achieve enables people to not only thrive, but also overcome extremely painful experiences.

Frankl found the ultimate meaning of life is to strive for a worthwhile personal goal. It is personally motivating potential. Frankl went on to earn a Ph.D. in philosophy, became a professor at Harvard, and developed logotherapy. 

College Graduation

Today I completed my last courses for my Bachelor of Arts in Business Management!  I have gone to school on and off for 25 years.  It took a back seat to my career, and then my kids when they came along.  In 2020, I made the commitment to myself to wrap it up, and to graduate before my eldest son Ayin.  

I spent the last 3 years focused on this goal, pushing through with a young child at home, a child becoming an adult and entering college, and a very full work life.  It got harder and harder as time went by, the lack of rest built up and my family became impatient for quality time.  Seeing the number of weeks whittling down was what helped me keep going, as well as the incredible support of my husband, family, and friends.  

I am SOOO GRATEFUL to have this personal  milestone behind me and for the incredible lessons I've learned along the way.  One benefit of finishing the advanced courses more recently is that they make a lot of sense based on my business experience and I can apply them immediately.  I'm very proud to close this chapter and to be the first college graduate in my immediate family.  As Luke would say, let's go! :)

Kotter's 8-Step Change Model

 I'm finishing a course on Organizational Behavior this week and I've loved it. My favorite takeaway is the change model created by John Kotter, a professor at Harvard Business School and world-renowned change expert. It's simple, yet powerful.

1. Establish a sense of urgency by creating a compelling reason for why change is needed.
2. Form a coalition with enough power to lead the change.
3. Create a new vision to direct the change and strategies for achieving the vision.
4. Communicate the vision throughout the organization.
5. Empower others to act on the vision by removing barriers to change and encouraging risk taking and creative problem solving.
6. Plan for, create, and reward short-term "wins" that move the organization toward the new vision.
7. Consolidate improvements, reassess changes, and make necessary adjustments in the new programs.
8. Reinforce the changes by demonstrating the relationship between new behaviors and organizational success.
   

Creating a Weekly Habits Template

Consistency builds momentum.  Small consistent steps are much more powerful than large sporadic ones; they lead to great achivements.  Weekly habits are the best path toward being consistent.  Think about the habits you have each week.  With a little conscious shaping, you can free up great amounts of time and energy, and thrust your goals forward.  

Creating a weekly habits template is a fun brainstorm session that bring clarity and inspires growth.  It provides a structure for the "to do's" to go around and helps prioritize goals.  These are the steps to creating one:

1. Open up a blank weekly calendar.  You can use this blank weekly calendar template or open up your google calendar and set the view to: week.  If using the electronic calendar, set it up so the appointments are recurring with reminders.  
2. Design your time in a way that works best for you.  
1. Think about the typical things that you need to take care of each week and place them where they work best.  Consider:  grocery shopping, work out, personal renewal time (ex: writing), organization session, family time, date night, etc.  
2. Consider processes that you have recurring tasks in.  Set aside time blocks on days that will help make those most successful.  
3. Place a couple of goal time blocks where they fit best.  These are creative sessions where you dig in and drive progress on your most important goals (ex: Wednesday afternoon - 2 hours for goal #1).
3. Optimize and refine.  Step back and review your time.  Are there changes you can make to create an ideal flow?  Group like tasks together, take care to not overload a particular day, and leave extra flexibility on days you want it most.  

One of the most important things in planning is to remain flexible.  Remember that moving planned items around when needed is not only okay, it's encouraged.  Reviewing this template every quarter or so is a great way to reflect on your accomplishments and inspire further growth. 

Personal Habits for Daily Fulfillment

Daily practices to facilitate adding the most value each day.

 
Every day we have many opportunities, decisions,  and actions that lie ahead of us.  The way we react to life is completely within our control and can have a great affect on many people. These are methods to make the most out of each day.

Get Ready

• Check in:  Start your day by checking in with how you're feeling.  Be compassionate with yourself.  Clear out any negativity so that you come to the table ready to go. 
• Give thanks:  The best way to raise your vibe is to think about what you are grateful for and to focus on it for a few minutes.  Expressing gratitude is scientifically proven to make you feel happier and increase progress toward your goals.  
• Fill your cups:  Set yourself up well.  Have your coffee and/or fuel yourself in whatever way makes you feel best.  Do what it takes to have a good attitude as you step into your day.

Show Up

• Have an intentional presence:  Be open, present, and ready to engage with others.   Think about what you can do to add the most value today and focus on that first.
• Sharpen your tools:  Do your homework and research multiple angles about whatever topic you're working on or thinking about.  Make sure you set yourself up with all the tools needed to perform your best, that they're polished up, and that they are within reach.
• Fully participate:  With each interaction, do your best to completely focus on the current topic and figure out how you can improve the outcome.  Ask yourself the question, "What can I do to positively impact the current situation as much as possible right now?"  Speak up and share ideas.  Be open to learn and be inspired.

Follow Up

• Collaborate and elevate:  There are many people invested in the same things as you.  Connect with them, align efforts, and collaborate together to elevate your plans and achieve the optimal outcome together.
• Monitor progress:  Visibility into key metrics is critical to ensure you take the optimal approach.  Awareness of progress is a huge motivator for continued growth.  Set up systems so that key information is captured, developed, and well organized.  Everyone needs to easily see that progress is being made consistently and give feedback on how to improve the approach.   
• Keep it moving forward:  Have a weekly habit of reviewing progress on your priorities and planning actions to keep them advancing.  Block out regular time to dedicate toward taking steps forward each week for your top priorities.  

What works best for you?

My Favorite Daily Mindset Practice: Giving Thanks in the Morning

This practice has the most profound impact on my well being.  

It’s simple. As I start my day, I take a few moments to check in and pay attention to what I’m feeling thankful about – and then magnify my focus on it. Sometimes I have to search deeply and may come up with things like “I am thankful for being in this nourishing space with my loving family." At other times simple things will pop up quickly, like “I am thankful for a new pen that is fun to write with." I do it in a quiet space that easily fits into my routine such as when I first wake up in bed or when I'm driving in the car.  I write down the thing I'm most grateful for in my planner.

By focusing on what I'm thankful for, my attitude shifts into a more positive state.  I stop thinking about the things I want to change and pour my energy into what I love.  In doing  so, I feel joyous, aware, and present. My perspective becomes more open and receptive. I feel more playful. 

I notice that I start my day from a place of inspired action rather than dragging myself through it.  It's fun! 

Other Favorites:

• My Favorite Life Hack
• My Favorite Time Management Trick
• My Favorite Trick for Feeling Truly Fulfilled
• My Favorite Organization Trick