Teaching Material

1. What is planning?

Planning helps you to manage your time effectively, achieve your goals, reduce stress and increase productivity. Better time management provides the benefits of clearer goals, increased motivation and satisfaction. Goals can be divided into two main categories: long term and short term. Long-term goals are those that we plan to achieve over a long period of time, usually a year or even longer. They include large and strategic tasks that require a lot of time and effort. Long-term goals help an organisation or an individual to focus on an overall vision and direction. Examples could be expanding a business into new markets within five years; completing a degree within three years; developing and launching a new product within three years. Short-term goals are smaller tasks that can be achieved in a shorter period of time, usually a few months or even weeks. They are steps towards longer-term goals. Short-term goals provide the opportunity to achieve results quickly and often act as a motivational tool. Examples could be: preparing and submitting a project proposal in two weeks, collecting and analysing market research data in a month.

1.1. SMART approach to setting targets

Specific (S) - objectives must be clearly defined.
Measurable (M) - you must be able to measure your progress.
Achievable (A) - goals must be realistic and achievable.
Relevant (R) - goals must have meaning and significance.
Time-bound (T) - goals must have a clear deadline.

1.2. Target setting process

- Analysis. Analyse the current situation, understanding strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.
- Setting objectives. Based on the results of the analysis, set long-term and short-term objectives according to the SMART principle.
- Action plan. Develop an action plan with specific actions, resources and responsibilities.
- Implementation. Start implementing the action plan, monitor progress and adjust actions as necessary.
- Evaluation. Evaluate progress and achievements on a regular basis, using established measurement criteria.

1.3. Prioritisation is crucial. This uses the Eisenhower matrix and ABC analysis

The Eisenhower Matrix:
 Important and urgent - do it now.
 Important but not urgent - plan to do it later.
 Important but urgent - delegate to others.
 Not important and not urgent - avoid or postpone.
ABC analysis:
 A - high priority tasks.
 B - medium priority tasks.
 C - low priority tasks.
In order to master this technique, it is recommended to plan your work in the evening and to concentrate on the important tasks.

1.4. Planning process

The steps in the planning process:
1.  Analysis and needs identification: the first step is to find out what the problem is and what the needs are. This may include market research, competitor analysis and other factors.
2.  Setting objectives: what do we want to achieve? Objectives must be clear, visible and measurable.
3.  Developing a strategy: how will we achieve our objectives? This includes action planning, resource allocation and timetabling.
4.  Implementing actions: we implement the strategy, execute the planned actions and monitor progress.
5.  Evaluation and improvement: after the actions have been implemented, we assess whether the objectives have been achieved and look for ways to improve the process.

1.5. Career planning

Career planning is a deliberate process that involves setting professional goals, exploring career options, setting clear and achievable objectives, developing skills, networking and adaptability. The three core competences of career planning are career visioning, career decision-making and career plan development. These competences help individuals to effectively navigate their career paths and achieve long-term success and satisfaction in their working lives. It should also be stressed that career planning as a lifelong process is particularly relevant in today's society, as labour market needs are changing more and more rapidly.

1.6. Steps in the career planning process

Assessment. The first step in the process is a self-assessment, which the person must carry out to understand his/her skills, areas of interest, aspirations, etc. Aspirations and goals are very important here as they will determine how the person will develop a plan for the future.
Career and Opportunities Survey. The second step in the process is to understand the career options, growth opportunities, etc., which would be aligned with the self-assessment already carried out. Identify the opportunities and then carry out the necessary research. The person needs to be knowledgeable about the market and growth.
Setting career goals. Set short and long term goals, have a clear path towards a career. The whole plan must be clear.
Learning and improving skills. It is a good idea to continuously acquire new knowledge and skills to match career goals and market requirements. In order to fill any gaps that may arise, you need to plan properly to learn and acquire the necessary skills in order to be able to implement your career plan as precisely as possible. 
Job search. You need to make a list of companies that are looking for employees and start applying, sending CVs or cover letters to the companies you have selected. 
Constant checking of your career goals. Try to check and review your goals as often as possible, evaluate yourself and your goals. This will help you build a solid career path.