Calendars and Commitments

A calendar needs to be realistic. As things change and new opportunities arise, you will revise the calendar many times. If the calendar is unrealistic to begin with, this process will be much more difficult. 

If your calendar seems overwhelming, you may be planning too much with too few resources. Start with a shorter period of time and less tasks and add more to the calendar when you are ready. Your work is likely to have more impact if you have fewer but more successful events. 

As you proceed, you will want to capture what tasks need to be done and who will do them.

Keep your calendar and task list as simple as possible. Actions you decide not to implement immediately can be kept on a separate list with no assignment so that you can revive the ideas as needed in the future.

If a task is too large for one person, you can create a committee (link, 2.9.) or add additional names to the task, but make sure there is one person responsible for coordination and ensuring that the task is completed.  

Beware of too few participants shouldering too much of the load. Look to see if there is a way to recruit and involve additional workers whenever possible. It is important for everyone to share in the responsibility and thus the future success of the collective work.

Following up in detail on the agreed-to tasks will help keep everyone involved accountable. If someone is not able to complete a task, decide whether the task can be reassigned or if the plan needs to be readjusted.

Providing everyone with regular updated tracking on the collective commitments and tasks will maintain enthusiasm and focus participants on the need to complete the tasks. Celebrate your collective and individual accomplishments together. Don’t get discouraged if things do not go according to schedule. Simply adjust the plan to better meet reality and reassign tasks and due dates as necessary.