Business Planning:- Action Points

Step 7

Action Points

This is the “to do list” part of the plan – otherwise known as the Nike List – just do it!

Actually just to call it a To Do List is a misnomer. Sometimes we need a “Stop Doing List”.

You should ask yourself the following 3 questions:

1. What am I going to start doing?
2. What am I going to stop doing?
3. What am I going to continue doing?

Where possible it is a matter of prioritising on importance rather than urgency.

The action points should cover what is to be completed this week, this month, this quarter, this year etc.

Part of this is also about communication. If you run a large scale operation, particularly with family members, are you having weekly "management" meetings and monthly "governance" meetings.

These should be no longer than half an hour, and should have at least a generic agenda. Where possible, you should be prioritising on importance rather than urgency. Easier said than done.

Poorly run meetings can add no value, and are dread for everyone.

However, well run effective meetings will provide clarity to everyone, and they will get a sense of input and/or ownership.