A guide to planning for clarity, calm, and confidence in your work and life.

Why an Annual Plan?

Annual plans are so important. But they need to do more than list our goals: our annual plans, and our calendars that show us how we’re working toward those plans, should bring us clarity, calm, and confidence. In today’s episode I describe how I planned for 2023, and walk you through my process of reflecting on the past, setting intentions for the future, and using backward design to plan for my goals. This framework helped me create an annual plan that is grounded in my values and reflects my priorities.

I’m sharing this process with you to use. Grab the free resource that guides you through your step-by-step framework for planning your own year! It’s a fillable PDF, so you can print and write on it if you want, or download and use it digitally.

This episode at a glance:

>> 1:30. My junior podcast editor and I have some podcast news!

>>2:44. Not your average, boring planning discussion. I created a system that I’m excited about, and it made me think of you. So I turned it into a free resource for you. (Grab it below.)

>> 7:03. Step 1: First, reflect on the lessons you learned this year. Use that reflection to decide what to carry forward and to get clear about what to let go.

>>9:01. Step 2: Next, use reflections to guide your backward design.

>>12:20. Step 3: With your goals in place, it’s time to get specific about the coming term. Not the whole year, just the next term.

>> 12:57. Step 4: Finally, give your calendar some love so that you can see the rhythms of your life and give yourself some breathing room. (Learn more about why this is so important in Episode 4: In a Leadership Role This Fall? Do These Four Things Now.)

References and resources:

👉🏼 Download The Grounded Academic Leader: Annual Plan 2023.