With action comes the opportunity to assess your progress. Revisit the steps when there is an unanticipated change in your context. You can meet new challenges better when you already have a plan in place.
Review tactics for targets
Take time for your team to critically review your selected tactics for each target.
For example, each team member may agree to take responsibility for outcomes in one action area. Take time to review the tactics selected for the target in this area.
- What tactics will help us use our research outcomes to influence allies and decision makers?
- What tactics will ensure our internal capacity building outcomes will help us carry out our action plan?
- What tactics will engage allies to achieve our mobilization outcomes in joining us?
- What tactics will be successful in engaging decision makers to achieve the recommendation outcomes we want?
Review opportunities
Consider how your tactics in one action area can support the outcomes of another action area.
For example, your research outcomes can be used to mobilize your allies for action. Your research recommendations can engage and guide the actions of decision makers.
Review risks
Consider which tactics carry more risk than others. Determine how you and your team can address or lessen these risks. If these risks are still too great, choose different tactics for action.
Create the Plan
Be sure your plan includes accountability. Detail what tasks need to be done. You and your team may already use an action plan format. If not, be sure your action plan includes the following information:
- What resources are needed to carry out each task. This includes both human, financial and material resources.
- Who is responsible to complete each task. Identifying people who will take on responsibilities will ensure accountability. There is a person you can ask to confirm something has been completed.
- Identify the timeline for when each task should be completed.
- Set times to review and reflect after the tasks are completed. Your action plan is a tool to help you be flexible to make necessary changes. It can be challenging to take time for reflection. But this time is well spent. It will help you move forward in your organizing efforts. Use this easy Pause & Reflect guide to assist your team.
Future Work and Planning
Strategic effectiveness and tactical innovation require on-going review. After implementing your plan, return to the 5-step Strategic Effectiveness Method. Take time to assess the results of your action plan. Use Sun Tzu’s three sources of knowledge to review your gains, challenges and opportunities. What do you now know about yourself? What changes happened? How did your actions impact the problem? How did opponents respond? How did your allies engage with you? How has the terrain of human relationships shifted? Were your tactics effective in moving your targets to take action? What progress did you make toward your strategic mid-range or long-term goal? What strategic goals will you plan next in your journey of change?
