You’re learning operational planning. How can you make sure you’re using the best resources?

1 Assess your needs

The first step in learning operational planning is to identify what you need to know and do. You can start by analyzing your current situation, your desired outcomes, and the gaps between them. What are the objectives, scope, and constraints of your project or activity? What are the skills, knowledge, and tools that you already have or need to acquire? What are the challenges, risks, and opportunities that you face? By answering these questions, you can determine your learning goals and priorities.

3 Apply what you learn

The third step is to apply what you learn to your own project or activity. You can use a framework or a template to guide your operational planning process. For example, you can use the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) criteria to set your goals, the RACI (Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed) matrix to assign roles and responsibilities, and the Gantt chart to schedule and track your tasks. You can also use tools such as spreadsheets, project management software, or dashboards to organize and visualize your data.

4 Seek feedback and improvement

The fourth step is to seek feedback and improvement on your operational planning skills. You can ask for feedback from your stakeholders, such as your team members, clients, customers, or supervisors. You can also review your own performance and results, and identify what worked well and what needs to be improved. You can use metrics such as quality, cost, time, scope, or customer satisfaction to measure your success. You can also use methods such as SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis, lessons learned, or after-action reviews to learn from your experience.

5 Keep learning and updating

The final step is to keep learning and updating your operational planning skills. You can do this by staying updated on the latest trends, best practices, and innovations in your field. You can also explore new resources, tools, or techniques that can enhance your operational planning process. You can also network with other professionals, join communities of practice, or participate in events or forums that can enrich your knowledge and skills.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?