4 steps to manage and deliver a goal
If you’ve ever failed at delivering a project or completing a task you’ll be left asking yourself “what went wrong?” Constantly reminding yourself of these four steps makes pushing through a project and seeing it to the end a reality.
1. Awareness
2. Ownership
3. Planning
4. Execution
I’ve used a simple project goal of reading a book to illustrate how to move through each step and how you might get stuck.
1. Awareness
Awareness is possibly the easiest step to get past. It’s simply realizing you have a goal you want to accomplish.
Ready for the next step:
- I haven’t been reading.
Stuck:
- I don’t need to read books. Self improvement is pointless.
2. Ownership
Ownership can be a tough step to get past if you attribute outside influences to why you can’t accomplish a goal. You know you need to make a change but do you own up to why you’re having a challenge?
Ready for the next step:
- I haven’t finished this book because I didn’t schedule time to read it.
Stuck:
- I don’t have time to read. My family/work/home responsibilities distract me too much so I can’t find time.
3. Planning
Planning is simply scheduling and tracking the time it takes to make a change. It’s all about finding systems that work for you.
Ready for the next step:
- Blocked out 30 minutes in your calendar to read. Scheduled a 30 minute lunch break to read while eating. Blocked out 2 hours over the weekend to read at a favorite coffee shop.
Stuck:
- I can’t schedule a time to read, I have to be in the right mood. Using a calendar to schedule reading feels like too much of a commitment. I just read when I feel like it.
4. Execution
Execution happens when you deliver by following your plan.
You delivered!:
- You finished your book.
Stuck:
- I scheduled time to read but I didn’t use it.
If you’re still stuck you probably wavered on a specific step or reverted to a previous step. Stick with it, be mindful of these four steps and you’ll deliver your goals.
Wow. This makes me wonder how many times throughout the day I am stuck. I think it is likely the barriers we often see to accomplishing a goal are probably often times self imposed. Your contrast between being ready for the next step or being stuck is going to make me reevaluate those barriers.
Great post. I often have great ideas. I get started on them. But I have challenges getting them all the way to completion. I believe that great companies are great simply because the execute better.
Nice write up. I like the example. I find myself “stuck” at step 3 (planning) quite a bit. Perhaps you could share some tips with us on overcoming the challenges associated with being stuck at the various levels?
I can use your ideas about delivering and managing goals in the board of directors work I do. Kyle and I are alike. I find I get stuck in the “planning” stage, too. Planning is the fun part. Looking forward to reading future posts.
I can use your ideas about delivering and managing goals in the board of directors work I do. Kyle and I are alike. I find I get stuck in the “planning” stage, too. Planning is the fun part. Looking forward to reading future posts.