Why Most Plans Never Materialize and What to Do? – Asrar Qureshi’s Blog Post 991

Why Most Plans Never Materialize and What to Do? – Asrar Qureshi’s Blog Post 991

Dear Colleagues! This is Asrar Qureshi’s Blog Post 991 for Pharma Veterans. Pharma Veterans Blogs are published by Asrar Qureshi on its dedicated site https://pharmaveterans.com. Please email to aq.pharmaveterans@gmail.com for publishing your contributions here.

Image Created with Microsoft Designer

Image Created with Microsoft Designer

Image Created with Microsoft Designer

Image Created with Microsoft Designer

The basic concept of this blogpost is taken from the book review of ‘Sidetracked’’ written by Harvard Professor Francesca Gino. The content is mine.

Plans often go awry due to various internal and external factors that can interfere with our intentions and ability to follow through. Understanding these factors and developing strategies to cope with them can increase the likelihood of achieving our goals. This is seen most often in individual, personal plans. Corporate plans also get derailed and detracted due to similar reasons.

Personal Factors

Lack of Commitment

This is probably the commonest reason. During meetings and gatherings, slogans are shouted to do this and that, but these are hollow, devoid of any substance. Whatever goals are set by departments, the corporate does not commit adequate resources to achieve these objectives. Same thing happens at personal level. Plans are made but the resources to execute plans are not committed. 

Coping Strategies

- Make plans which match your resources.

- Allocate and dedicate planned resources so that these are not committed elsewhere.

- If you believe in all honesty that you cannot do it, do not plan it.

Lack of Sustained Motivation

Motivation can and does fluctuate over time, leading to procrastination or a lack of enthusiasm for pursuing goals. The original spirit with which the plan is made fades away or is taken over by some other interest. New Year Resolutions probably have the highest rate of getting dumped rather early. Controlling excessive sweets, too much coffee, chain-smoking, or reducing weight, doing exercise three days a week, going for a walk every morning, are just some examples of plans which are mostly derailed. 

Coping Strategies

- Divide large goals into smaller, manageable, measurable tasks to reduce overwhelm and track progress.

- Define specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals to provide clarity and direction.

- Regularly visualize and record the positive outcomes of achieving your goals to maintain motivation.

Fear and Self-Doubt

Fear of failure or self-doubt can lead to inaction and prevent individuals from taking necessary steps toward their goals. When a plan is made, the negative factors are rarely considered. In fact, most plans are made with lot of positive motivation and no devil’s advocate being round, the negative side, therefore, is never brought to light. Later, however, we may start having cold feet early or later during the execution of plan.

Coping Strategies

 - Use positive reinforcement and affirmations to challenge negative self-talk and build confidence.

  - Identify and leverage personal strengths and past successes to boost self-belief. Strengths is an important matter, and everyone must find their strengths.

  - Do not dread failure. View failure as a learning opportunity rather than a setback and use it to gain insights for improvement.

Poor Time Management

Time is the most important resource in planning and executing. Inadequate planning and time allocation can lead to missed deadlines and incomplete tasks. We are not good at time management generally, at personal and corporate level. Missing deadlines is not considered to be a serious mistake. The one-hour meetings keep lingering on for four hours and no one feels bad. Instead, they justify by saying that very important aspects had come up which could not be missed.

Coping Strategies

  - Prioritize tasks according to their importance and urgency. Use prioritization techniques like the Eisenhower Box to focus on urgent and important tasks. 

  - Create a daily or weekly schedule to allocate specific times for tasks and reduce the likelihood of procrastination.

  - Identify and minimize distractions, such as social media or multitasking, to increase productivity.

Relationship Factors

Social Pressures

Expectations from family, friends, or colleagues can influence decision-making and distract from personal goals. Each of the above relations impacts a specific area more than others. For example, family shall influence personal goals more directly, colleagues can influence career plans, and friends may have influence on both. While their positive inputs are welcome, the final decision must remain with the planner.

Coping Strategies

  - Share your goals and priorities with only those from whom you expect positive, significant input, i.e., with individuals who understand and support your aspirations.

  -  Set the context and boundaries to manage expectations and response.

  -  Learn and practice assertiveness and the ability to decline what conflict with your goals.

Conflicts and Misunderstandings

Interpersonal conflicts or misunderstandings can create stress and hinder focus on personal objectives. It may not be just about your own conflicts, but also between people around and close to you whose conflicts may affect your decisions.

Coping Strategies

  - Use active listening and empathy to understand different perspectives and resolve conflicts.

  - Develop skills in negotiation and mediation to address disagreements constructively.

  - Invest time in nurturing positive relationships that enhance collaboration and mutual support.

Dependence on Others

Relying on others for assistance or collaboration can lead to delays or changes in plans if they are unavailable or uncooperative. It also means you give initiative in their hands rather than keeping it with you. 

Coping Strategies

  - Develop skills and resources to reduce reliance on others for essential tasks.

  - Clearly outline roles and responsibilities when collaborating with others to prevent misunderstandings.

  - Prepare alternative solutions or backup plans to mitigate potential disruptions.

External Factors

Environmental Factors

External conditions such as economic downturns, business scenarios, new regulations, political instability, or natural disasters can disrupt plans.

Coping Strategies

  - Keep updated with current events and trends to anticipate potential challenges.

  - Cultivate flexibility and the ability to adjust plans based on changing circumstances.

  - Identify potential risks and develop contingency plans to address unforeseen events.

Resource Constraints

Limited access to financial, material, or human resources can impede progress toward goals. If the limitation was known from the outset, some strategy must already be in place. If it is new, it must be coped with.

Coping Strategies

  - Make efficient use of available resources and seek cost-effective solutions.

  - Utilize personal and professional networks to access resources, advice, or support.

  - Explore opportunities for grants, loans, or partnerships to acquire necessary resources.

Technological Changes

Rapid technological advancements and transformation are happening in routine. These can render skills or methods obsolete, requiring adaptation to new tools or systems.

Coping Strategies

 - Stay informed about technological trends and invest in skill development to remain competitive.

  - Be open to adopting new technologies and integrating them into your plans.

  - Utilize technology to enhance efficiency, communication, and access to information.

Sum Up

A quote from Robert Burns (1785), which is in Scottish, is loosely translated as this:

“The best-laid schemes of mice and men often go awry”

The observation is true about most plans. Fewer plans reach their destination successfully, and even fewer reach there without hindrances. It is, therefore, important to plan diligently, execute committedly, and follow through vehemently.

Concluded.

Disclaimers: Pictures in these blogs are taken from free resources at Pexels, Pixabay, Unsplash, and Google. Credit is given where available. If a copyright claim is lodged, we shall remove the picture with appropriate regrets.

For most blogs, I research from several sources which are open to public. Their links are mentioned under references. There is no intent to infringe upon anyone’s copyrights. If, however, it happens unintentionally, I offer my sincere regrets. 

References:

https://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/sidetracked-why-cant-we-stick-to-the-plan