Calendar Planning by Ken Sutterfield

Planning and Execution: The importance of the Calendar in 2023

By Ken Sutterfield

I have worked in both very small organizations and very large organizations during my nonprofit career.  I have always been mystified when there was a lack of yearly calendar planning or flat-out opposition to the process essential to our daily work and mission execution.  

An established yearly calendar executed properly is the most basic and yet effective tool for any (CEO) Chief Executive Officer or (CDO) Chief Development Officer. The calendar provides an actionable story of the mission each day with goals and objectives coming to life within the rhythm of both those executing and those being impacted.

The calendar also keeps you and those you lead on track and inspires confidence in the plan as you prepare for, execute and meet the objectives. The executed calendar is your map to success that allows you and your team to “Focus on 1st things 1st” and exploit momentum to reach your goals and objectives.

Keys to planning your yearly calendar:

            Know your Rhythms- all organizations have one

     Establish all your key dates and target dates

        Prepare both individually and with your team

             Be willing to give margin in your space and time

                             Record unexpected events that occur for future planning

When planning both individually and with your team be willing to be imaginative. Consider your “Envisioned future” for the year and on key objectives and events. A great pleasure in life is doing what people say cannot be done. Don’t just….  look at things as they are - but as they can be.  In the end there is no substitute for planning. “Plan your work – and work your plan.”