Why Action Plans Matter
Many businesses stall not because of bad strategy, but because they can’t execute what they already know they need to do. These pitfalls are often avoidable if you know what to look for.
1. Overplanning Without Action
Problem: Teams spend weeks (sometimes months) building “perfect” Action Plans that are outdated by the time they launch.
Analysis: Planning becomes a substitute for progress. Teams feel productive but aren’t moving forward.
Solution: Embrace a 70% rule, start when the Action Plan are “good enough,” and build in regular review points to iterate and optimize.
2. Vague Responsibilities and Ownership
Problem: Everyone assumes someone else is handling it. Deadlines slip through the cracks.
Analysis: Without explicit ownership, even simple tasks stall. Accountability fades.
Solution: Assign clear owners, not teams, not departments, people. Every task has a name next to it in your Action Plans.
3. No Feedback Loops
Problem: Action Plans are built once, never revisited. No one knows what’s working or where to pivot.
Analysis: Teams miss early signs of trouble and repeat avoidable mistakes.
Solution: Install a cadence, either weekly reviews, monthly retros. Create space to learn, adapt, and improve execution of your Action Plans.
