The Law of Navigation Part 1
Plan Ahead-Exodus 5:1
No question about it, Moses had a major challenge on his hands. Not only did he have to convince everyone—including Pharaoh—to let him lead the Hebrew slaves out of Egypt, but he had to plan the whole process. To mobilize his countrymen, he first had to organize them. That required shrewd planning.
For more than 25 years the following acronym has helped leaders to think through their plans whenever a major challenge or opportunity approaches:
P—Predetermine your course of action.
L—Lay out your goals.
A—Adjust your priorities.
N—Notify key personnel.
A—Allow time for acceptance.
H—Head into action.
E—Expect problems.
A—Always point to your successes.
D—Daily review your progress.
Planning and Structure-Numbers 2:1-34
As a good leader, Moses methodically arranged the tribal camps in the wilderness. He set the Tabernacle in the center and arranged the priest around its four sides. Then he symmetrically distributed the Twelve Tribes around the priest and Levites, the three tribes on each of the four sides.
We would do well to plan and organize as Moses did.
- Plan to plan. Give time for planning and organizing.
- Determine your primary purpose. What’s the big picture? What are you trying to do?
- Assess the situation. Understand where you sit before trying to develop a strategy.
- Prioritize the needs. Make sure the team agrees on the most important goals.
- Ask the right questions. Ask about market, leadership, revenue, reporting, evaluation.
- Set specific goals. Write goals that are realistic, measurable, convictional.
- Clarify and communicate. Communication links planning and implementation.
- Identify possible obstacles. Mentally walk through all you are trying to pull off.
- Have an open system approach to your planning. Be sympathetic to your environment.
- Schedule everything you can. Get things on the calendar and set deadlines.
- Budget everything you can. Determine the cost and due dates of projects.
- Monitor and correct. Progress is like a canoe trip; constantly adjust your course.
- Study the results. Evaluation prevents stagnation an exaggeration.
Remember, anyone can steer the ship, but it takes a leader to chart the course.
Join me next time for The Law of Navigation Part 2.