Plan and commit
Who, what, when
Also called Action plan
Close a session by writing each action with one owner and a date, so decisions turn into work instead of good intentions.
- Time10 to 20 minutes
- People2 to 20 people
- Steps3
What it's for
Most workshops end with agreement and no follow-through. Writing every action as a row (what, who, by when) before people leave takes ten minutes and is the difference between a session that changed something and one that didn't.
One name per action. Two owners means no owner.
How to run it
List the actions6 min
What needs to happen as a result of today? One per note, starting with a verb.
Assign owners4 min
A name next to each action. People volunteer; nobody is volunteered.
Set dates4 min
A real date for each. "Soon" isn't a date.
Tips
- Keep the three notes for one action in a line, so each row reads across.
- Export the board as CSV and send it out the same day.
Where it comes from
A basic meeting practice with no single source. It appears in some form in almost every guide to running meetings.
Pairs well with
RACI chart
For each task or decision, agree who is responsible, who is accountable, who is consulted and who is informed.
Objectives and key results
Set an ambitious objective and three or so measurable key results that would show you achieved it.
GROW model
Four questions (goal, reality, options, way forward) that take a person or a team from a vague aim to a committed next step.