Adjust the Route Not the Mission
Do you ever become frustrated with the planning process because changing circumstances repeatedly force you to recalibrate your plans?
A plan gives us direction, but execution gives us information. Once the work begins, circumstances change, assumptions are tested, and obstacles emerge that we could not have anticipated. Adjusting the route is not abandoning the objective. It is using what we have learned to find a better way forward. The mission should remain steady, but the plan must remain flexible.
When I was much younger, having a bias toward action was considered a highly desirable leadership trait. I embraced that idea—and then took it too far.
I decided that a bias toward action meant spending less time planning and figuring things out as I went. In my mind, planning only slowed execution. My plans never materialized exactly as I imagined anyway, so eliminating that seemingly unproductive step felt like a great way to move faster.
It certainly created more activity. Unfortunately, much of that activity became rework, backtracking, and correcting problems that could have been anticipated.
Over time, I learned that the value of planning is not limited to producing a document or predicting exactly how events will unfold. Planning forces us to clarify the destination and determine what matters most. It helps us establish priorities, assign ownership, allocate resources, sequence the work, and anticipate potential obstacles.
Just as importantly, the planning process brings assumptions into the open. It gives people the opportunity to ask questions, challenge our thinking, and identify risks or opportunities we may have overlooked. It helps everyone understand not only what we are trying to accomplish, but why it matters and how their contribution fits into the larger mission.
A thoughtful plan also creates milestones that allow us to measure progress. Without those checkpoints, we may remain busy without recognizing that we are drifting off course. With them, we can identify problems earlier, learn from what is happening, and make adjustments before significant time and energy are wasted.
The plan will almost certainly change once execution begins. New information will emerge. Assumptions will prove incorrect. Opportunities and obstacles will appear that we could not have anticipated. That does not mean the planning process failed. It means the planning process prepared us to recalibrate without losing sight of the mission.
Without a plan, we are merely reacting. With a plan, we can recognize what has changed, understand what it means, and deliberately choose a better route forward.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- Where are changing circumstances requiring you to recalibrate your plans?
- What could a more thoughtful planning process help you anticipate, clarify, or prevent?
CHALLENGE
Take another look at one important initiative today. Confirm the destination, examine what you have learned, and adjust the route if necessary—but remain committed to the mission.
