6 Benefits of creating an action plan
People tend to become very busy, ostensibly in the pursuit of their goals and then wonder why they are not making any progress. The answer is usually quite apparent. They don’t have a plan. As Benjamin Franklin so aptly stated, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!”
The benefits of creating a plan of action are numerous, but apparently not as obvious as one might think, otherwise everyone would create one in pursuit of their goals. Notwithstanding, whether you’re trying to complete a project, launch a new business, or improve your personal life, having a well-defined plan of action is crucial to your success. Here are six benefits that can be gleaned from creating a plan of action.
- Planning helps you to decide on your goals
Ambitious people generally have multiple things that they would like to accomplish. Unfortunately, this creates something called goal competition. Your desires are always competing for your time and attention. A plan of action forces you to decide on which goals to pursue first, and in an ongoing process, which ones you will turn your focus on once the previous goals have been reached.
- A Plan helps you to use resources efficiently
Chances are you will not have a blank check nor an infinite amount of time in which to accomplish your goal or complete your project. Creating a plan of action helps you to determine the most efficient ways in which to use the limited resources you have at your disposal.
- Planning allows flexibility
Some people think that by creating a plan they have painted themselves into a box but that couldn’t be further from the truth. We live in an environment that is always changing and events beyond our control often impact us. Having a clear plan allows you the flexibility to address and adjust to the changing circumstances.
- Having a plan keeps you focused
There is often more than one way to accomplish a particular goal and as I noted earlier, we sometimes have multiple goals we can pursue. Having a plan of action keeps you focused on the most important goal you need to pursue at the moment and the steps you need to take to achieve it. Your plan also prevents you from becoming distracted by other shiny objects that are bound to come your way.
- Planning bolsters Creativity
Numerous studies have shown that when options are limited, people tend to come up with more creative solutions. Creating a plan of action often requires you to think outside of the box. This boost creativity because you frequently have to find less conventional ways to use the limited resources you have.
- Having a plan educes overwhelm
Whether a personal goal or team project, an objective can seem insurmountable at the outset. Having a plan reduces that possibility because the process to goal attainment is broken down into smaller, manageable, steps. Clearly identifying every action step in a plan, eliminates overwhelm and leave you lose and encouraged as you move towards your original.
Keep On Pushing!
