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A LITTLE ABOUT ME:

Hamilton College ‘13Green Corps: Field School for Environmental Organizing ’14ELP New England ‘15Currently the Advocacy Coordinator with Maine Conservation Voters

ELPERS TALK A LOT ABOUT PLANNING…

BUT ARE WE ACTUALLY PLANNING WELL?

WHY WE PLAN

1) Create a visionGives you the ability to strategize, way for 30,000 ft view to materialize

Make sure everyone on your team is on the same page

Create a shared expectation of what will be accomplished

WHY WE PLAN

2) Maximize your effectiveness

Stress relief: there is a way for this all to get done!

Mutual accountabilityHave realistic expectations for what you can get done

Rationale for how things occurred the way they did

Know when you’ve succeeded!

THE EISENHOWER DECISION MATRIX

PRINCIPLES FOR EFFECTIVE PLANNING

• Be OK and ready for plans to change

• Set measureable goals• Work backwards• Check for feasibility• Know yourself• Use your plan!

WE SET GOALS BECAUSE THEY:

1) help you refocus when you’re in the middle of things

2) give you concrete things to shoot for to keep you focused and motivated

3) help you quantify at the end of the day whether or not you made a difference

HOW TO SET GOALS: BE SMART!

• Specific• Measurable• Action-Oriented• Realistic• Time-Bound

PRO-TIPS

• Run the numbers – figure out your rates• “Organizer math”

• Schedule double the time, do it in half

• Make it easy for yourself to plan

• Have someone to hold you accountable

COMMON PITFALLS

• Giving up on the plan

• Setting vague or unachievable goals

• Your action items don’t help you reach your goals