People who have known me a long time think of me as a planner. (You may remember me sharing that Roberto’s friends even wrote a song called “planney annie” for our wedding. Umm, thanks guys!)
I mean, I’m actually a strategic planning consultant.
But the pandemic (and unpredictable political landscapes) taught me something: I became less reliant on planning as a way to control situations, and more focused on planning as a guide—a wider frame that fluctuations can fit inside.
Well, I thought I’d learned this lesson…
But old habits and the need for control are powerful.
This summer, I went right back to planning everything down to the minute. Summer’s a bigger juggle for me—work shifts to sprints, my kiddo needs more shuttling around, and the Pacific Northwest goes manic about fitting it ALL in. Hike, swim, camp, repeat!
So I planned this puppy out. Let’s maximize! Let’s WIN this summer.
Then, the hardest news happened – a beloved family member died, and my whole family gathered together to honor her life.
And then the best news happened – and my in-laws were in good health and able to visit.
Most plans got tossed out the window.
(To all my family – I love you, and it has been a tender, heart-expanding blessing to be with each of you this summer.)
But past me had done something brilliant. Last June, we sat down as a family and talked about what we wanted summer to FEEL LIKE and the doable experiences we wanted. We said: if we each feel this way and have these experiences at least once, we’ll know it was SUMMER.
Guess what? We had the experiences and feelings we aimed for.
This summer wasn’t what we planned, and it became exactly what it was meant to be.
The leadership lesson? Plans help you move together toward goals you couldn’t reach alone. Don’t stop planning! But leave room for improvisation, and know what would make “it” feel like a win that everyone can agree with.
🏮 BEACONS – How to build beyond the “plan”:
Ask these questions:
- How do people want to feel during and after the project?
- What’s the actual end goal and outcome?
- What real, tangible things need to happen for positive impact?
Borrow these tips:
- Include everyone in building the plan and understanding the BIGGER direction
- Keep hopes simple, accessible, and attainable
- Ensure everyone can see their desired impacts in the goals
When the landscape shifts—and it will—you’ll have something more durable than a timeline. You’ll have shared agreement on what true success looks like.
🌊 TIDE TURNERS – More Resources & Support
Liberating Structures – Specifically “25/10 Crowd Sourcing” or “What, So What, Now What?” for getting team input on success criteria
Good Strategy, Bad Strategy, Richard Rumelt on Lenny’s Podcast
“Emergent Strategy” by adrienne maree brown – Framework for adaptive, nature-inspired planning