Day 21 of 31 days to Creating Your Inspiring Personal Plan for 2012
In Step 20, you created your hypothesis of the five or six strategies that you will be implementing in 2012 in order to make your Vision become an accurate depiction of how you are currently living your life, as opposed to merely an aspirational statement.
Now, you need to test the validity of those strategies. All of the remaining steps in the planning process are predicated on your strategies so it is critical that they be at least a good starting point. The following five part test should provide you with additional confidence that you come out of this step with strategies that will accelerate your success in 2012.
1. Are your strategies really strategies, or are they really more like tactics?
You will have faster success in 2012 if you enter the year with a strong strategic plan, as opposed to merely a list of detailed things to do (this comes later in the process). Here is an example of the difference between these two concepts. “Committing to opening a Twitter account” is a tactical step. “Leveraging the power of social media to increase my personal brand recognition” is strategic.
When we are only tactical in our thinking, we tend to lunge from tactic to tactic. When we are strategic, we are smoother and faster. The tactics we use support a strategy, as opposed to being a series of disjointed efforts.
If any of your strategies are more tactical in nature, tweak them now by taking them to a high level.
2. Do your strategies make great use of your strengths?
In Step 4, you received input on your personal strengths from people you trust. You will accelerate your success when you follow strategies that make good use of your strengths.
Let me give you a simple example. I am not a good singer, and that is being kind to myself. :) Perhaps I could learn to be a good singer, and maybe someday I will decide to do that. But singing is certainly not a current strength. Pursing any strategy that was somehow dependent on my singing will only slow me down.
Do your strategies make good use of your strengths? If not, what tweaks can you make to one or more of your strategies to make better use of your strengths?
Click HERE to continue reading the full "21st Step" article -- Test Your Strategies.
Co-host, Career Success Radio Show
A leading authority on career success; 15-year executive coaching veteran
Contact: Andy@CRGLeaders.com, 239-285-5575
Comments