Action Plans for Business

A business action plan calls for discipline and cooperation.

It is not enough to say in your business plan that your company has certain goals. If you are serious about achieving those goals, you have to deal with the task systematically. Write an action plan for each goal. Reach a clear understanding of the outcome you want, list each intermediate step and turn the steps into a plan. An action plan can turn an intangible goal or a vague wish into reality.

Define the Goal

Before you can start making an action plan, you and your management team must agree in stark detail exactly what you need to achieve. The more precise you can be, the better. Debate the idea until the team has a clear understanding of the goal -- how else will you know you've achieved it? An example of a goal would be to increase sales by 15 percent in six months. Or, instead of one general sales goal, set a goal for each category of product you sell.

List the Actions

Be specific. Break your necessary actions down to baby steps. Be careful not to take unspecified leaps between steps. Be sure that everyone concerned understands the sequence of events from one step to the next. Give each step a deadline. If you have to move a deadline, announce the change to the entire management team and provide a justification for the change. This will build discipline into the process. It is also a sound practice to estimate the cost of each step in terms of both time and money.

Make the Plan

Edit the steps carefully and make changes to eliminate any duplication. Streamline the list as much as possible without creating any unexplained gaps. Be sure that each action builds upon a previous action. Let your external team (including accountants, attorneys and consultants) review the plan and make suggestions for improvement. Be sure you and your colleagues are in unanimous agreement about the overall action plan before you start.

Execute the Plan

Establish a timeline for each action plan. Include target dates. As each action plan proceeds, record the actual timeline next to the planned timeline. The leader for each action plan should explain any deviations from the plan. Remember that it is acceptable to make adjustments during the process, but keep in mind that any such changes should be made in the open, keeping the whole team in the loop. Monitoring and executing the overall action plan requires discipline. Each member of the management team must be dedicated to the plan's completion. Action planning will work for you if you take it seriously and give it the high priority it deserves.

References

• Entrepreneur: Create an Action Plan Now
• MoreBusiness: Business Action Plan
• Time Management Guide: How to Write an Action Plan