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Planning Template

Tue, January 3rd, 2006 by Tom Foster

Last year, they spent $12,000 on a planning consultant to help them put together a business plan that included Carl's division. Since it was delivered, last February, only three people have even looked at it. No wonder Carl was reluctant when I asked for this year's plan.

"Why the sad face?" I asked.

"Planning is one of those management skills that I always seem to put off," Carl replied.

"Carl, at the end of this year, do you want your division to be exactly as it is, now?"

"No way, there are several things I would like to change."

"Good. Carl, here are some questions for you:

How can you design those changes so they are well thought-out?

How can you communicate your ideas clearly to other people?

How can you bring people together to discuss your ideas so they have a better chance of getting done?"

Carl thought for a minute, then finally spoke. "I guess I should write down my ideas, to make sure they are clear in my own mind, then I can send them around to the other people on my team."

"Would you like a small planning template to help you get started?" I asked. Carl's eyes got wide as his head moved up and down.

If you would like a copy of the template I am sending to Carl, just drop me an email. (If you are an email subscriber to Management Skills Blog, just reply to this email).

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 3rd, 2006 at 1:00 am and is filed under Planning Skills. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

64 Responses to “Planning Template”

  1. Roy Campbell Says:
    January 4th, 2006 at 7:54 am

    Please send me a copy of your planning template. Hope you and your family had a great holiday.

  2. Richard Rice Says:
    January 4th, 2006 at 8:03 am

    Tom
    Please send me a planning template.
    Thanks

  3. Thomas Marotta Says:
    January 4th, 2006 at 8:47 am

    Love a copy of your template - thanks.

  4. Franco Concari Says:
    January 4th, 2006 at 9:34 am

    I'm curious about this planning template. Happy new year!

  5. Michael Johnston Says:
    January 4th, 2006 at 9:41 am

    Tom,
    Please send me a template, really appreciate your insight.

    Have a great '06

  6. Jon Tonko Says:
    January 4th, 2006 at 10:04 am

    Tom,
    Please send me a template.
    Thanks

  7. einalem Says:
    January 4th, 2006 at 10:18 am

    would also love a copy

  8. Joseph Raiclooney Says:
    January 4th, 2006 at 10:30 am

    pleas,send me this planning template
    I am overwhelmed with all my job

  9. Elizabeth Paul Says:
    January 4th, 2006 at 10:35 am

    Tom, please send me a copy of the template.

  10. Mike Voightmann Says:
    January 4th, 2006 at 11:02 am

    Hello Tom, I would also like a copy of the template. Thanks!

  11. Bruce Black Says:
    January 4th, 2006 at 11:38 am

    Please send me a copy of the planning template as well.

    P.S. I enjoy reading your blog every morning. Thanks for the insights.

  12. WJL Says:
    January 4th, 2006 at 12:51 pm

    I am looking for tools to help with organization...looking forward to reviewing this template! Thank you

  13. Ken Gasque Says:
    January 4th, 2006 at 5:07 pm

    Please send a copy of the planning template

  14. Gordon Gray Says:
    January 4th, 2006 at 6:26 pm

    Please send me a copy of the template. Thanks

  15. Paul W. Swansen Says:
    January 4th, 2006 at 6:38 pm

    Would love a copy.

  16. James Steele Says:
    January 5th, 2006 at 9:00 am

    Please send me a copy of your planning template!

    Thanks.

  17. Andrew Horton Says:
    January 5th, 2006 at 12:57 pm

    Tom, would love to see your planning template!
    Thanks
    Andrew

  18. Dave DeWees Says:
    January 5th, 2006 at 1:50 pm

    Tom, I would also like to see your planning template.

  19. Sebastian Comella Says:
    January 5th, 2006 at 2:42 pm

    Please send me a copy of your planning template. Thank you!

  20. Josh Says:
    January 5th, 2006 at 4:40 pm

    I'd like the template please. Thanks

  21. Dave Thompson Says:
    January 5th, 2006 at 7:41 pm

    Please send me a copy of the template. Thank you

  22. Muz Says:
    January 6th, 2006 at 12:57 am

    I'd love a copy of the template too. Thank you.

  23. Lynn Juengel Says:
    January 6th, 2006 at 9:57 am

    Please send me a copy of the template.

    Thank You.

  24. Dale Cagwin Says:
    January 6th, 2006 at 10:45 am

    copy please

  25. Donna Stoffregen Says:
    January 6th, 2006 at 1:44 pm

    Please send me a copy. thanks

  26. mihai Says:
    January 6th, 2006 at 2:06 pm

    please send me a copy too.thanks

  27. J Dunn Says:
    January 7th, 2006 at 11:55 am

    Please send me a copy of your template. Thanks

  28. Alexander Says:
    January 8th, 2006 at 2:44 am

    Please send me a copy, too. Thanks.

  29. Tenison Stone Says:
    January 9th, 2006 at 8:44 am

    Please send me a copy of your template. Highly recommended on other blogs.

    Tenison

  30. Dan Says:
    January 9th, 2006 at 9:00 am

    Please send me a copy of your template.

  31. john schechter Says:
    January 10th, 2006 at 2:28 pm

    pls send template. thx

  32. Karin Says:
    January 11th, 2006 at 8:43 am

    Please send planning template. I understand it's the best! Thanks.

  33. ManagersRealm Says:
    January 11th, 2006 at 12:29 pm

    Template to help in your Planning
    Tom Foster at his Management Skills Blog, recently offered a template to spur those who forget to even look at the plan they have for their business in the next year. He talks about a division of a company that...

  34. Ramesh Subramanian Says:
    January 11th, 2006 at 12:40 pm

    I would really appreciateit if you can send me a copy of your planning template.

  35. Dr. Franz Campero Says:
    January 13th, 2006 at 8:50 am

    I would really appreciateit if you can send me a copy of your planning template. Thanks.

  36. Udi Dahan - The Software Simplist Says:
    January 13th, 2006 at 5:12 pm

    I, too, would appreciate a copy of your planning template.

  37. Joel Goode Says:
    January 14th, 2006 at 6:54 am

    Please send your planning template.

    Thanks a million!

  38. Evelyn Mitchell Says:
    January 15th, 2006 at 10:14 pm

    I'd like a copy of the planning template, please.

  39. C. Brewster Says:
    January 16th, 2006 at 9:39 am

    Please send me a copy of the planning template. Many thanks.

  40. Tehreem Atif Says:
    January 17th, 2006 at 1:08 am

    Please send me a copy of your planning template.
    Regards

  41. B.Malin Says:
    January 17th, 2006 at 3:20 pm

    Would love a copy of your planning template! Thanks.

  42. Rebecca Says:
    January 24th, 2006 at 4:27 pm

    Please send me a copy of your planning template. It sounds very interesting.

  43. Ranelle Says:
    January 26th, 2006 at 11:52 am

    I would love to have a copy of your planning template. Thanks

  44. Nitin Says:
    January 30th, 2006 at 6:35 am

    Please send a copy of the planning template ... looks really intresting

  45. Rojo Says:
    January 31st, 2006 at 7:50 am

    Please send me a copy of the planning template.

    Thanks

  46. Sam Says:
    February 8th, 2006 at 1:31 pm

    Please send a copy of the planning template

  47. Osa Says:
    March 1st, 2006 at 3:32 pm

    Please send me a copy of the planning template.
    Sincerely

  48. Mohamed Says:
    March 18th, 2006 at 9:48 pm

    I would love to have a copy of your planning template. Thanks

  49. Jeff Says:
    March 21st, 2006 at 8:50 pm

    I can't plan my way out of a wet paper bag ;-) Please send me a copy too! Thanks!

  50. Dennis Vermilye Says:
    April 10th, 2006 at 8:25 pm

    Please send a copy of this template.
    Thank you.

  51. lindy Says:
    April 12th, 2006 at 3:10 am

    Please send me a copy of the planning template. Thanks. Lindy

  52. Yvonne Greco Says:
    April 17th, 2006 at 9:10 am

    Tom, can you add me too. I'd appreciate a copy of the planning template. Thnanks!

  53. Sharon Stockwell Says:
    June 6th, 2006 at 11:05 pm

    Tom,
    Could you please send me a copy of your planning tmeplate.
    Much appreciated.
    Sharon

  54. Varadarajan Says:
    June 19th, 2006 at 7:13 am

    Tom ,
    Will be great to receive ( and use) a copy of the Planning template . Your work is Highly recommended and I am eager to benefit
    thnks
    Rajan India

  55. Poojan Says:
    June 20th, 2006 at 4:46 am

    Tom, Same request.Please send me a copy of planning template. thanks, Poojan India

  56. scot masters Says:
    July 28th, 2006 at 1:20 am

    Tom,

    Would love a copy of that template.

    Thanks,

    Scot

  57. Kathy Says:
    July 30th, 2006 at 6:08 pm

    Tom,

    I too would love a copy of the template.

    Thank you,

    Kathy

  58. Paul Dannels Says:
    August 24th, 2006 at 3:52 pm

    Hello,
    Please send a copy of your free template.
    Thanks alot.
    Paul

  59. Bob Says:
    October 16th, 2006 at 11:30 am

    Tom,

    I was on the Management Craft blog and saw mention of your planning template. I'd be most grateful to get a copy of it.

    Best regards,

    Bob

  60. Conrad Says:
    December 8th, 2006 at 1:01 pm

    Please send me a copy of your planning template.
    thx,
    Conrad

  61. deanna Says:
    December 22nd, 2007 at 2:45 pm

    Please send a copy or link to your planning template.
    Thanks

  62. Lori Says:
    January 8th, 2008 at 11:46 pm

    I know this is an old post...any chance you've got an extra planning template hanging around? :)

    Thanks!!

  63. Clare Davies Says:
    March 11th, 2008 at 6:58 am

    Hey Tom I'm also jumping into an old post and would love a copy of the planning template. Thank you v much Clare

  64. Bhama Muralidharan Says:
    April 3rd, 2008 at 6:51 am

    Hi Tom:

    Could you please send me a copy of the Planning Template. Would really help me as I take on a new task.

    Thanks
    Bhama

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