Have you often witnessed any of this related to your planning? Non-workable plan, Difficult to plan, No clarity while planning. Planning does not need to be routine task of checklist. Planning done with awareness bring more clarity and self-awareness.
We all agree that a broader plan is a better tool to give us direction and track our progress. Without a plan, we may not stop moving, but it might be a directionless movement. Have you ever wondered if humans are the only ones who plan? Animals also show a great deal of planning from building a nest to collecting food for winter, from migration to protecting territory.
Animal’s planning skills
Birds’ nest-building behavior is a fascinating example of how animals can exhibit planning skills. While they may not have the same level of conscious thought as humans, their actions demonstrate a clear prioritization of tasks and a focus on achieving a specific goal. Here’s how a bird’s nest-building is a detailed planning –
- Goal Setting: Birds have a clear goal: to create a safe and comfortable nest for their eggs and young. This goal drives their subsequent actions.
- Resource Allocation: Birds must gather materials like twigs, leaves, grass, or mud to build their nests. This involves assessing the availability of resources and prioritizing the collection of necessary materials.
- Task Prioritization: Birds typically follow a sequence of steps when building a nest, such as selecting a location, gathering materials, and constructing the structure. This demonstrates a clear prioritization of tasks, thus ensuring that each step is completed in a timely and efficient manner.
- Environmental Factors: Birds consider various environmental factors when building their nests, such as the availability of food, protection from predators, and suitable nesting sites. This shows their ability to adapt their plans based on external conditions.
- Risk Assessment: Birds often choose nest locations that provide a certain degree of protection from predators. This demonstrates their ability to assess risks and make decisions that minimize potential threats to their offspring.
While birds may not have the same level of conscious planning as humans, their nest-building behavior demonstrates their ability to set goals, prioritize tasks, and adapt to their environment. These skills are essential for survival and reproduction, and they highlight the remarkable intelligence and adaptability of these creatures.
Planning helps to create a path in the direction of a goal. All plans are based on short-term/long-term goals. There is no right or wrong way to plan. There multiple ways to do planning.
Let’s explore different lenses for planning
Time-based planning
The plan is based on specific time allocated toward the activities aligned with your goal. There are many time management techniques. Migratory animals can sense changes in day length, which indicates the approach of seasons. This helps them determine the optimal time to begin their migration. Following are a few options for using time-based planning
Time blocking – Divide your day into specific time blocks for different tasks or activities. You can also block time-based on the most important task or energy level during the day.
Total number of hours for certain activity/skill – For example, one would want to invest 200 hrs in the next 4 months to learn guitar.
The environment can also force us to plan based on time – For example, finish a report before the end of the day.
Resource-Based Planning
Animal hibernation is a good example of resource-based planning. Animals show planning for future needs by storing food for adverse times.
Planning may require you to consider the available resources, such as time, money, people, and materials. It can be a training/course which you want to attend. Chefs may plan the menu based on the ingredients available or the seasonality of food. At times we need to plan according to the trainer’s availability. Hence, resources become an integral part of the planning process.
PRiority-based planning
Wolves in a pack often have specific roles, such as hunting, defending the territory, or caring for pups. This division of labor ensures that everyone contributes to the survival of the pack.
Understanding which tasks are most important and focusing on those first can shift the planning focus. Techniques like the Eisenhower Matrix can help you prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance. Delegation is an important aspect of priority-based planning.
Outcome-based planning
It is about setting a clear and specific goal and evaluating the outcome.
Bees plan their hives to ensure optimal honey production and the survival of the bees colony. They carefully select locations, build structures, and regulate the internal environment to maximize their chances of success. Planning to run a 10K marathon by the end of October is an example of outcome-based planning.
Skill-Based planning
Primary skills alone may not be enough to reach our goals. In addition to our primary skills, we may need to acquire supplementary skills that are not directly related to the goal. For example, writing is a primary skill to become an author. Along with writing one may need to learn to promote the writing, to reach out to people to publish writing, to learn various software tools for online writing, etc. Chimpanzees learn to use tools, such as sticks for fishing or rocks for cracking nuts. This demonstrates their ability to acquire new skills and adapt to changing environments. Skill-based planning has 2 important factors to consider –
- Skill Assessment: Identifying your strengths and weaknesses.
- Skill Development: Investing time and effort in developing necessary skills. For example, if you’re planning to learn a new language, you might enroll in a language course or practice regularly.
Deliberate Practice falls into this category. It is about honing a skill with a clear goal in mind. Check this article to understand more about deliberate practice.
Planning for other factors
Based on HOM- Habits of mind (Learn more about HOM in this article)
I will take up a new hobby and will invest 30 min every day for the next 6 months (breaking my comfort zone)
Based on MI – Multiple Intelligence (Read this article to understand MI)
My social intelligence is not that great, I will consciously meet at least 1 new person every 10 days and will make an effort to connect to them (Improving on social intelligence).
I am not using enough movement for my body. I will incorporate one sports activity or exercise for 20 minutes every day for 5 days per week (improving on kinesthetic intelligence).
Contingency planning
It is about developing backup plans in case things don’t go as expected. For example, have contingency plans for technical failures, such as backup equipment or alternative ways of presentation.
Planning is more than just setting goals and making schedules; it’s a process of self-reflection and self-awareness. Through planning, we take a step back and examine our lives, goals, and the path we want to take. This introspection forces us to confront our values, priorities, and limitations. We also learn to recognize patterns in our behavior.
In essence, planning is a powerful tool for self-discovery and personal growth. It allows us to reflect on our lives, understand ourselves better, and make informed decisions that lead to a more fulfilling and meaningful existence.