Finding Answers

In my previous blog about business planning, I discussed the method of backwards planning.  Whether you are planning a marketing campaign, a social media initiative, a sales plan, or even something unheard of yet… it is best to execute those items in manageable pieces.

…break up the tasks into those easily executable, manageable chunks.

It is best first to understand that backwards planning sets your milestones.  It helps your lay down the timeframe expectations for the various pieces of your plan.  Now you have to execute it.  This is where the principle of the 30 60 90 day execution comes in.

Strategy & Planning

There is no secret sauce to this. No eleven herbs and spices.  No special cola formula to using a 30 60 90 execution plan.  You look at your backwards plan and you break up the tasks into those easily executable, manageable chunks.

Where people go wrong in using a 30 60 90 day execution plan is when they overload the first thirty days with too many tasks to complete.  What was once a manageable tool is now filled with traps of failure of “too much.”

…you need to cross off what is completed and update it at a regular interval.

The next area where business executives tend to fail using this execution plan is that they forget it is a rolling plan.  Once you make it the clock starts.  The thirty days starts now and when they pass, what was on the 60-day portion becomes the 30-day portion and the 90 the 60.

To ensure that you do not stack too much in the first thirty days break it into three buckets of what needs to get done.  So think of the 30 as what needs to get done now.  Think of 60 as what can get done later.  Think of 90 as what can only be accomplished after 30 and 60 get accomplished.  This helps you make sure that you do not stack too much in the first thirty days.

Remember backwards planning is assigning a date and time of when you want to accomplish a particular goal, finish a project, or meet a deadline.

To avoid the second pitfall, forgetting that this plan is rolling, you need to cross off what is completed and update it at a regular interval.  Every month is definitely not a proper interval.  If you do that you are not really looking at or utilizing your plan.  Every day is obviously overkill.  It is best to pick a day in the week.  I am keen to Sundays as this is when I begin looking at what needs to be accomplished for the upcoming workweek.  Sunday I review what I completed (or not, I am human) and update my execution plan for the next 30 60 90 days.

Steps To Success

One of the keys to making this work is that you need to cross off items as you complete them.  It keeps you looking at your plan and not letting things pile up on you.

Remember backwards planning is assigning a date and time of when you want to accomplish a particular goal, finish a project, or meet a deadline.  You are working from that point in time backwards to where you are now so that you can align your resources, assign teams, and avoid unnecessary tasks.  Think of this as a walking the field before the big game or match. You are getting a lay of the land before you actually play.  The 30 60 90 day execution plan is a forward looking business planning tool that works within the frame work of the backwards plan to meet your major milestones.  Think of this as the actual plays you are executing during the game.

I am always interested in know how other people plan and execute their work, how do you plan?

About the author:

Erroin A. Martin is a Business Advocate with the Von Gehr Consulting Group, LLC, a coaching and consultancy provider for businesses and medical practices. He has over eleven years experience working within the pharmaceutical, manufacturing, technology, business services, and agriculture industries in various levels of leadership across six continents. He has led diverse teams in sales, marketing, planning, and in the Army.  He currently coaches business leaders and physicians in the tools needed to plan for their success. Learn more about the Von Gehr Consulting Group, LLC at www.vongehrconsulting.com or call +1 203 433 8079.  You can follow him on Twitter at @Erroin