Plan For Success Part 3: Chunking Down & Sideways For Action

Action Planning

In my previous post, I referred to the importance of setting appropriate SMART goals and expanded on the subject of chunking up, a simple process used for clarifying why a particular goal has been set. Discovering your "reason why" is the key to remaining motivated when things get tough (at some point they almost certainly will).

The next step is to discover and commit to whatever actions are needed to achieve your goal.

Outcome Goals And Action Steps

Assuming that you have figured out why you want whatever it is that you want, the next step is to figure out what actions need to be taken to achieve your goal and the order in which to take those actions. In other words, create a plan.

There is another powerful and straightforward chunking process, this time chunking down and sideways, which is described below, but first here are a few points about goals and action steps.

Every goal will have one or more action steps leading towards it. If no action steps are defined, no goal will be achieved, except perhaps by accident.

Every action step must have a goal of some kind as an outcome; if you cannot define an outcome, then the action has no point.

So when chunking down (as described below), it is important to recognise:

• any lower-level outcome without a defined action step;
• any action step without a defined outcome.

I make no apology for repeating that every outcome or goal will have at least one defined action associated with its achievement, and every defined action will be designed to achieve a defined outcome.

First Prepare The Mindset

Before starting to chunk down, it's worth spending a couple of minutes reviewing your goal. Imagine that you have achieved the pre-defined outcome; imagine that you are there already before asking the questions.

When I facilitate a group or coach an individual, I often ask them to pick a spot in the room other than where they are already positioned. They then look in the direction of the new position while reviewing the desired outcome (just for 2 minutes). I invite them when they are ready to physically move to the new position. From there, they literally look back at where they were as they answer the questions.

This might sound silly to some, but it works well because it helps to focus the mind. If you stand at the top of the hill you've just climbed, it is usually easier to see the route you took than to see the route from below.

Chunking Down And Sideways

Chunking down simply means breaking something down (a goal or outcome in this case) into parts, or in this case, into smaller outcomes and measurable action steps that must happen for the outcome to be achieved. Chunking sideways is often used alongside chunking down and will become clear as you read on. Similar to chunking up, the process of chunking down and sideways involves answering the following questions:

• "What must have happened to achieve this outcome?" (for chunking down).
• "What else must have happened?" (for chunking sideways).
• "How will I know when this or these actions are completed?".

Start With A Brainstorm

Unlike when chunking up, this time write your defined goal at the top of a page.

Then ask yourself the questions, writing down everything that comes to mind. Don't question your answers yet. No criticism is allowed at this stage.

Just focus on the two questions concerning the defined goal...

For every answer you write down, ask the same questions again.

Get Organised

When you have a list of things to do and achieve, the items then need to be organised.

This means:

• Placing the items in a logical order
• Make sure that every 'outcome goal' has at least one 'action goal' aimed at its achievement;
• Make sure that each 'action goal' is aimed at a defined 'outcome goal';
• Where appropriate, decide what to measure. Things that get measured get managed!

Be aware that this is usually the longest step. You might find some items that don't fit and are not needed. You will probably find new items to add. Clarity will take time. How much depends on the size and complexity of the goal.

Example

Personally, I like to brainstorm in mind mapping software or use a block editor such as a page in "notion.os". I like to write things down once, which can then be moved around easily. Since I'm currently writing in "notion", the following examples are images of content on a notion page.

I simply started with the goal at the top of the page and repeatedly asked the two questions.

Step 1 is the initial brainstorming session. The list of "what must have happened" and "what else?" is written in the order that ideas came to me.

Step 2, is a re-organised version with more clarity and additional items that occurred to me as I got organised. Here I have written the list literally as a chunking-down list, which should then be read (and acted upon) from the bottom up. If I was creating this plan with other people in mind I would normally reverse the order of the list for more clarity.

Step 1: initial brainstorm:

Step 2: Organised action list:

Summary

As Benjamin Franklin famously said, "If you fail to plan, you're planning to fail". Most people know this already, but it is uncanny how many people ignore it.

The process of chunking down, like chunking up, is, in essence, very straightforward. It's simple and effective. Never underestimate the power of simple ideas.

The main questions to ask when chunking down and sideways are:

• "What must have happened to achieve this outcome?".
• "What else must have happened?".

When your plan is ready, just get started, take the first step, and keep going.

Every activity planned is a mini-goal.

Do try chunking; you might like it!

If you have any questions or comments please add them below.

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:-)
Richard