How can you explain Operational Planning to someone unfamiliar with the field?

1 Use simple language

Avoid using jargon, acronyms, or technical terms that might confuse your audience. Instead, use clear and simple language that anyone can understand. For example, instead of saying "We need to conduct a SWOT analysis to identify our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats", you could say "We need to evaluate what we are good at, what we need to improve, what we can take advantage of, and what we need to watch out for".

2 Give examples

Examples can help you illustrate the concepts and benefits of operational planning. You can use examples from your own experience, from other fields, or from everyday life. For example, you could say "Operational planning is like planning a trip. You need to decide where you want to go, how you will get there, what you will need, how much it will cost, and how long it will take. And you also need to check the weather, the traffic, and the availability of hotels and attractions, and make changes if necessary".

3 Use visuals

Visuals can help you communicate complex or abstract ideas more effectively. You can use charts, graphs, diagrams, or images to show the steps, stages, or components of operational planning. For example, you could use a Gantt chart to show the timeline and dependencies of a project, a flowchart to show the process and decision points of an activity, or a pie chart to show the allocation of resources and budget.

4 Relate to their needs

One of the best ways to explain operational planning to someone who is not familiar with the field is to relate it to their needs, interests, or goals. You can ask them questions to understand their perspective, challenges, or expectations, and then show them how operational planning can help them achieve their desired outcomes. For example, you could say "What are some of the projects or tasks that you are working on or planning to work on? How do you plan and organize them? What are some of the difficulties or risks that you face or anticipate? How do you measure and evaluate your progress and results? Operational planning can help you answer these questions and improve your performance and efficiency".

5 Invite feedback

Finally, you can invite feedback from your audience to check their understanding, address their doubts, or clarify their queries. You can ask them open-ended questions, such as "What do you think of operational planning? How do you think it can help you in your work or personal life? Do you have any questions or concerns about operational planning?" By inviting feedback, you can engage your audience, assess their level of comprehension, and reinforce your message.

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?