Planners vs. Doers

Often, everything from project plans to business development plans to career plans don't always work as intended.

D. Brown Management Profile Picture
Share

To understand why, it is important to understand the psychological concepts of ego depletion and decision fatigue.

Quote: We are superior planners but become inferior doers as our environment exerts its influence through the course of our day. Marshall Goldsmith.

Many of us would simply prefer to “Get to Work” and start doing things, but we intellectually know that it’s important to create a plan so we can prioritize then execute most effectively. 

Most things that come in “Off-Plan” are due to failures in disciplined execution rather than bad plans or lack of capabilities. 

  • Focus heavily on the routine processes that will help you achieve your plan.  
  • Create regular habits and routines that keep you and your team on-track. 
  • Build motivation through disciplined execution.

Marshall Goldsmith does a great job discussing these in his book Triggers, including 6 Daily Questions we should all ask ourselves.




GRIT and Candidates at West Point
When you are looking at your organizational chart, job roles, and culture, what consistently demonstrated behaviors truly drive results?
Early Identification as a Trainable Skill
The ability to identify potential changes early is a skill that can be tested, trained, and managed just like a craft skill.
Noel Tichy and the 3 Zones of Learning
When it comes to developing talent in yourself and in others, it is important to know the boundaries of the learning zone as defined by Noel Tichy in his 3 Zones of Learning model.