There’s an maxim that for a project to be successful, you should spend 80 percent of your time planning to make the 20 percent of ‘doing’ effective. But what happens when the planning is nearly 100 percent, and there is very little doing?
Working with new clients lately, and with existing clients on new projects, it’s apparent to me that too much planning can lead to paralysis by analysis. And nothing gets achieved.
So how much planning is enough? And how much is too much?
In the marketing communications space, our advice is to be strategic – know what your objectives are, how you are going to measure your success, have an idea of who you’re communicating with, plus an outline of how you think you’ll achieve those objectives. Next develop your plan of attack in small bites, with clear responsibility for who is doing what. Keep your planning document (singular if possible) concise and easy for all to follow.
Then get started. In the words of Nike – Just Do It!
Meet regularly to progress, and be flexible, if what you are doing isn’t getting the results, try something new but always in line with meeting your objectives.
Your journey may not be without road bumps but at least you’re on the drive, and with some reflection, driving forwards.
Sound straightforward? We think it should be. If you’d like help to get your marketing comms moving, get in touch.
Dale Cowie
Working with new clients lately, and with existing clients on new projects, it’s apparent to me that too much planning can lead to paralysis by analysis. And nothing gets achieved.
So how much planning is enough? And how much is too much?
In the marketing communications space, our advice is to be strategic – know what your objectives are, how you are going to measure your success, have an idea of who you’re communicating with, plus an outline of how you think you’ll achieve those objectives. Next develop your plan of attack in small bites, with clear responsibility for who is doing what. Keep your planning document (singular if possible) concise and easy for all to follow.
Then get started. In the words of Nike – Just Do It!
Meet regularly to progress, and be flexible, if what you are doing isn’t getting the results, try something new but always in line with meeting your objectives.
Your journey may not be without road bumps but at least you’re on the drive, and with some reflection, driving forwards.
Sound straightforward? We think it should be. If you’d like help to get your marketing comms moving, get in touch.
Dale Cowie
