Planning With Purpose

How do we make plans that can succeed in an out of control world?

As 2022 begins, we live in a chaotic world. And we make our worlds even more chaotic by trying to impose order. I resolve to do this. I will achieve that. “This will be my year.” Can we really do this with willpower alone?

That disorder, or lack of definition, exists on several fronts for me. So I need to plan.

• I’m moving into a new house next week which requires, er, a bit of forethought.
• I’m working with a coachee on defining her aspirations, and how to work toward achieving them.
• I’m supporting my team at work on how we can best prepare ourselves for the challenges of the upcoming year

Historically, I haven’t always planned well. I’ve dedicated very little time to think about action and consequence, in favour of letting things happen, reacting to them, and rationalising after the event that that was my intention all the time. Reflecting further on that, I haven’t planned well because I didn’t know what planning well meant, and what I was trying to achieve. As I spend more time with the concept, I realise that a plan cannot exist on its own — it needs a foundation to stand on, and to determine its value. If I attempt to structure that as a framework: