FAQ #22 Do I Have to Do Planning?

Planning is not a bureaucratic chore; it is the steering wheel of your business. Without clear objectives, step‑by‑step milestones, and a cadence for review, even the most passionate team can drift off course, reacting to crises rather than driving toward opportunity. ActionCOACH embeds structured planning into every coaching engagement because methodical growth habits turn ambitious visions into predictable outcomes.

Why Planning Matters More Than Ever

Modern markets move at breakneck speed. Technologies emerge overnight, supply chains wobble, and customer expectations evolve with each new app update. In that environment, “winging it” is a recipe for wasted resources and missed opportunities. A robust planning rhythm delivers three critical advantages:

Clarity of Direction – When objectives are written down and milestones dated, every stakeholder knows where the company is heading and why today’s tasks matter.
Resource Alignment – Budgets, staffing, and marketing spend can be allocated with surgical precision, preventing cash leaks and burnout.
Agility Under Pressure – Paradoxically, the more disciplined your planning, the easier it is to pivot. A documented plan highlights which levers you can pull first when markets shift.

From Daily Priorities to Quarterly Objectives

ActionCOACH promotes a nested planning structure that cascades from long‑term vision down to the next 24 hours.

10‑Year Dream – A vivid description of what success looks like a decade out.
3‑Year Milestones – Revenue, profit, team size, or market expansion markers that must be reached to stay on track.
12‑Month Goals – Concrete targets for the current fiscal year.
90‑Day Plan – A short, focused sprint outlining projects, KPIs, and owners.
Daily Priority List – The three to five tasks each team member must complete to move the 90‑day plan forward.

This hierarchy ensures that daily actions roll up into quarterly wins, quarterly wins accumulate into annual achievements, and annual achievements pave the way to the long‑term dream.

How ActionCOACH Facilitates Practical Planning

ActionCOACH’s role is to transform planning from an abstract concept into a practical, energising discipline:

Vision Extraction – Coaches use probing questions to distil an owner’s ambitions into clear, measurable statements.
Reality Check – Financials, capacity, and market conditions are assessed so that goals stretch the team without breaking it.
SMART Goal Setting – Objectives are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time‑bound, eliminating fuzzy targets like “grow sales.”
Project Prioritisation – The coach helps rank initiatives by impact and effort, focusing resources on the 20 percent of tasks that will drive 80 percent of results.
Accountability Rhythm – Weekly check‑ins and quarterly GrowthCLUB workshops create a culture where plans are living documents, not dusty binders.

The Planning Cycle in Action: A Mini‑Case

A Brisbane‑based landscaping company wanted to double its revenue in 18 months. During a GrowthCLUB session, the owner realised that landing more commercial contracts would move the needle faster than chasing additional residential jobs. The 90‑day plan, therefore, focused on three projects:

Proposal System Overhaul – Standardise bid templates to cut turnaround time from five days to 48 hours.
Networking Calendar – Schedule two property‑manager lunches and one industry breakfast per month.
Crew Capacity Audit – Analyse whether weekend overtime or a part‑time hire would absorb larger contracts.

Weekly check‑ins kept each project on track, and by the next quarterly planning session, the business had secured three multi‑site maintenance agreements worth an extra $28,000 per month. Without the discipline of planning, the owner admitted, “We’d still be trimming hedges one yard at a time.”

Common Planning Pitfalls—and How Coaching Prevents Them

Over‑Ambition – Setting too many priorities dilutes focus. Coaches cap the 90‑day plan at three major projects.
Analysis Paralysis – Endless data gathering delays action. ActionCOACH pushes for “70 percent certainty, 100 percent commitment,” then iterates.
Shelfware Syndrome – Plans that live in drawers help no one. Weekly accountability sessions keep goals front and centre.
Static Targets – Markets change; plans must too. Quarterly reviews ensure objectives remain relevant and motivating.

Integrating Planning with Team Engagement

A plan created in isolation seldom survives contact with reality. ActionCOACH encourages owners to involve key team members in the planning process:

Collaborative Brainstorming – Department heads identify obstacles and opportunities you may overlook.
Shared KPIs – When teams co‑author metrics, they’re more invested in hitting them.
Transparent Progress Boards – Visual dashboards in the office or online show everyone the score in real time.
Celebration Rituals – Small wins receive public recognition, reinforcing positive momentum.

Planning Tools Tailored to Your Business

ActionCOACH doesn’t force‑fit one software platform. Your coach matches tools to your tech comfort and budget:

Whiteboard & Sticky Notes – Ideal for creative teams that need tactile brainstorming.
Google Sheets or Excel – Perfect for owners who prefer simplicity and easy sharing.
Project‑Management Apps – Trello, Asana, or Monday for teams juggling multiple deadlines.
BI Dashboards – Power BI or Tableau for data‑rich enterprises needing real‑time insights.

Continuous Improvement: Plan, Do, Review

The real magic lies not just in making a plan but in running the Plan‑Do‑Review loop:

Plan – Define the outcome, resources, and timeline.
Do – Execute while capturing data on effort and results.
Review – Analyse what worked, what didn’t, and why. Feed insights into the next planning cycle.

Over time, this feedback loop compounds efficiency. Teams get faster at estimating effort, owners become sharper at forecasting revenue, and the business grows with fewer surprises.

Conclusion

Planning is the backbone of sustainable success. It clarifies direction, aligns resources, and equips your business to pivot with confidence when markets shift. ActionCOACH’s structured yet flexible planning framework turns lofty ambitions into quarterly milestones and daily priorities, ensuring that every hour worked advances your most important goals. By embedding accountability, real‑world data, and continuous feedback into the process, ActionCOACH transforms planning from a once‑a‑year ritual into a living, breathing driver of growth.

Ready to experience the power of disciplined planning? Request a discovery call to craft a 90‑day plan tailored to your next big milestone.