Before you can set a goal or craft a plan of action to achieve it, it’s important to start with a clear vision of the future you want to create. This vision will be a helpful compass, guiding principle, or “north star” to show the way forward. Your goal will be the specific destination/location (i.e., outcome) you want to achieve. The action plan will be your pathway or route forward (i.e., how to get there).
Begin by considering what forces might be impeding or constraining progress towards your vision. Also reflect on what forces might facilitate or support that progress. Being able to remove or minimize those negative factors while simultaneously strengthening those positive forces will help you as you move forward with goal setting and action planning.
Force Field Analysis, a model by Kurt Lewin, offers a framework for identifying these factors that drive you away from your vision or propel you towards it. By analyzing your vision in light of these forces, you’ll be able to figure out what you’re “up against” and, also, what motivates or inspires you to move towards the vision. This will also help you to identify how to minimize or remove barriers and strengthen those positive forces.
Consider your current circumstance/situation/state. Brainstorm the forces that positively or negatively impact your progress towards your desired vision.
Forces that drive you forward (i.e., positive forces)
Forces that are holding you back or blocking you (i.e., negative forces)
Brainstorm 2-3 ways you can strengthen some of the positive forces.
Brainstorm 2-3 ways you can minimize or overcome some of the negative forces.
These forces may give you some insights to narrow down your vision into a specific goal. They can also inform the tasks and resources you’ll include in your action plan. Keep them in mind as you move into the next sections.
There are many different goal-setting frameworks you may want to consider. We’ve presented two here: SMART and DUMB.
The SMART goals model has been around for a long time and suggests that a goal should be:
Specific – ask yourself, is this goal clear enough that anyone who reads it would understand what I mean?
If you answered “no” to any of these questions, then you may want to consider revising your goal.
An alternative version, SMARTER, includes E for Evaluate (e.g., how did I perform? how can I do better?) and R for Reward (e.g., how will I celebrate?).
The DUMB goals model is a newer framework and suggests that goals should be:
If you answered “no” to any of these questions, you may want to consider revising your goal. Take time to consider what adjustments might allow you to answer “yes.”
Success in Depth offers a deep dive into these two methods; however, we encourage you to pick something that feels right within your own context. Here are some examples to spark your thinking.
If your vision is a compass and the goal is a specific destination/location, an action plan is your map of how to get there.
A well-crafted action plan will:
To create your action plan, you can:
Note: As you’re planning your timeline for completion, you’ll notice that the beginning of some action steps requires the completion of another (e.g., an Individual can’t submit a resume until that resume is written). You may also find some deadlines are hard cut offs with no wiggle room (e.g., due dates for funding applications). Keep these in mind as you begin creating your action plan.
Alternatively, you may prefer to start with brainstorming all the action steps necessary to achieve your goal, clustering these steps into major tasks. If you use post its, you can easily sort the steps into different major task categories, adding additional necessary steps as you go. This may be easier for those more visually inclined and can provide a space for a bit more freedom and creativity in the action planning process.
There are many ways you can organize and present your action plan (e.g., timeline, Gantt chart, calendar). There are also many freely available project management tools you can use (see Forbes online review for some ideas). For individuals, technology solutions may be advantageous as you can set yourself reminders of upcoming deadlines or schedule messages of encouragement to send to yourself. In addition, for workplaces and communities, users can create collaborative teams or groups, distributing specific action steps or entire major tasks amongst members. Be sure to pick an approach and organizing tools that work for you. Action plans don’t have to be complex; they simply need to provide a meaningful and practical organizational structure.
Some examples of action plans related to the goals presented earlier are included here.
For an individual with the goal of completing a post-secondary certificate in business management, some of the major tasks, action steps, timeline, and resources might include:
Major Task: Select a university with a relevant program
Action Steps:
Timeline: Month 1
Resources:
Major Task: Apply to the program
Action Steps:
Timeline: Month 3
Resources:
Major Task: Enroll in the required courses
Action Steps:
Timeline: Month 6
Resources:
Select a university with a relevant program
Month 1
Apply to the program
Month 3
Enroll in the required courses
Month 6
For a workplace renovating their space to make it wheelchair accessible, some of the major tasks, action steps, timeline, and resources might include:
Major Task: Collaborate with a wheelchair user consultant in the re-design process
Action Steps:
Timeline: Month 1
Resources:
Major Task: Secure a contractor who can complete the desired work
Action Steps:
Timeline: Month 1
Resources:
Major Task: Obtain relevant paperwork and/or permits
Action Steps:
Timeline: Month 5
Resources:
Collaborate with a wheelchair user consultant in the re-design process
Month 1
Secure a contractor who can complete the desired work
Month 1
Obtain relevant paperwork and/or permits
Month 5
For a community group running a summer festival, some of the major tasks, action steps, timeline, and resources might include:
Major Task: Select mentors / job coaches to work with the youth
Action Steps:
Timeline: Month 1
Resources:
Major Task: Hire neurodivergent youth
Action Steps:
Timeline: Month 2
Resources:
Major Task: Create a training/work plan for the youth employees
Action Steps:
Timeline: Month 3
Resources:
Select mentors / job coaches to work with the youth
Month 1
Hire neurodivergent youth
Month 2
Create a training/work plan for the youth employees
Month 3
Goal setting and action planning are helpful skills; however, they aren’t static processes. Your goal may change due to shifting contexts. Your plan may need to be adjusted if you miss a key milestone or deadline along the way. You may even find your vision has changed, requiring you to revisit the entire goal setting and action planning process. This ongoing process is natural and necessary as we live in a dynamic and complex world. Having to rework your plan isn’t a failure; it’s a reality.
The next resource, Evaluate Progress, will be helpful as you implement and adapt your action plan. It will also provide some ideas for celebrating your success.
As you’ve seen in the employment success factors and the change and transition resource, life isn’t static. Individuals, workplaces, and communities need agile, responsive, and flexible plans for action. To achieve your goals, you’ll need to monitor progress, make shifts, and celebrate your successes along the way.
