Six Step Weekly Planning Process

Start with self, and then identify a maximum of seven roles of greatest importance to you. I’ve shared my own personal roles below as an example, including sub-roles for my “business owner” role.

 3. Identify weekly goals/choices — in writing

Think of two or three important results you want to accomplish during the coming week in each role you identified in step two. Write this week’s goals/choices next to each role. If you choose not to do anything with a particular role, that’s fine. There’s a difference between choosing NOT to do something and not “getting around to it.”

Goals can be focus areas (example: focus on using reflective listening skills with my daughter) or scheduled activities (example: work out at the gym three times for one hour each). Remind yourself of this truth: Every time I say “yes” to someone or something, I am saying “no” to someone or something else! I like thinking of weekly choices because sometimes goals can start feeling like a “should” or “have to” vs. a “choose to” and that can create some resistance.

Your goals reflect the following elements:

• They are driven by conscience and align with your personal vision and mission/purpose.
• Your focus is on the “important” rather than just the “urgent”
• They are driven by “I choose to…” rather than “I have to…” or “I should…”
• These four basic human needs:
  • Physical (doing)
  • Mental (learning)
    Spiritual (understanding/being)
  • Social (relating)

Schedule a weekly one-hour appointment with yourself and follow this Six Step Planning Process as you plan each week. Look at the week ahead with your goals in mind and schedule time to take the action required to achieve them.

SUCCESS TIPS:

• Include some unscheduled time. If every minute of every day is already booked, you are setting yourself up for failure. Allow time for unexpected but important activities when planning your week.
• While you’re planning, have a stack of 3×5 index cards handy to help you manage distractions. As things pop into your mind that will “just take a second” to do, write them down (one per card) and finish your planning for the coming week. At the end of your planning session, you can either do those things you wrote down, or place in a tickler file for future follow-up.
• Use a weekly planner rather than a daily or monthly planner. If you use a hand-held organizer, do your planning at a computer screen where you can see the whole week at once.

5. Exercise integrity in the moment of choice

When making schedule adjustments, connect with your mission to stay on track. If something more important comes up, reschedule the planned activity for another time. Decisions are based on your priorities. Be a gatekeeper – say no to activities or responsibilities which will derail you from living your mission. Don’t play the victim; it’s your life and you are in control!

6. Evaluate and learn

“If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting! One definition of insanity is to keep doing the same things and expecting different results.” (Stephen Covey)

Before planning the next week, evaluate the previous week by asking yourself these questions:

• What worked and what didn’t work?
• What got in the way of me accomplishing what I wanted this past week?
• What did I learn from that?
• Based on my learning, what do I choose to do differently in the coming week.

Click here to download a printable copy of this planning process.

For a more in-depth look at the weekly planning process
register for my free webinar, Managing Priorities.