What Are the Six Types of Planning? Understanding the Key Strategies

Introduction: Why Planning is Essential

Well, if you’re like me, you probably can’t imagine going through life without planning. I mean, whether it’s something as small as planning your grocery list or something big like mapping out your career goals, planning is something we all rely on. But did you know that there are actually six types of planning that businesses, organizations, and even individuals use to make things happen?

Honestly, when I first heard about these, I thought "Planning is just planning, right?" But once I started breaking it down, I realized that each type has its own role and can be crucial in different situations. So let’s dive into it and see how you can use each one.

1. Strategic Planning: Setting Long-Term Goals

What is Strategic Planning?

Honestly, strategic planning is like the big-picture blueprint for your life or a business. It’s the type of planning you use when you’re looking at long-term objectives. Think of it like plotting out the entire course of a river instead of focusing on just one bend.

For businesses, strategic planning involves setting clear goals for the next several years, assessing the competitive landscape, and determining how to allocate resources effectively. On a personal level, it could be like deciding where you want to be in five years and what you need to do to get there.

My Experience with Strategic Planning

I remember a time when I was working on a big project at work, and we spent days hashing out a strategic plan. It felt tedious at first, but once everything was in place, it gave us a clear direction, and honestly, everything seemed to fall into place. So, if you’re thinking about the long-term future, whether it's for business or your personal life, strategic planning is where you start.

2. Tactical Planning: The Step-by-Step Approach

What is Tactical Planning?

Now, tactical planning is all about breaking down those big, long-term goals into actionable steps. While strategic planning gives you the endgame, tactical planning tells you how to get there. It's more about the short to mid-term, and it’s detailed.

Think of it this way: If strategic planning is the map for the entire journey, tactical planning is the turn-by-turn directions. It's the steps you need to take to make the big picture a reality. For businesses, it’s about turning high-level strategies into specific actions.

Real-Life Example

I once had to create a tactical plan for a marketing campaign. We had a big vision, but tactical planning broke it down into daily tasks—social media posts, email campaigns, and collaboration with influencers. It made the whole process so much easier to manage. So, whenever you’ve got a big task, tactical planning is the way to go.

3. Operational Planning: The Daily Grind

What is Operational Planning?

Honestly, operational planning is the bread and butter of daily tasks. It’s focused on the day-to-day operations and is typically done within the framework of tactical planning. In a business context, it involves organizing the resources, tasks, and activities needed to run operations smoothly.

For individuals, operational planning might involve planning out your week: meetings, tasks, grocery shopping—you name it. It's all about making sure things run smoothly today to keep the long-term goals on track.

Personal Story

When I first started a new job, I quickly learned that operational planning was key to staying on top of everything. Organizing my daily schedule, prioritizing tasks, and making sure I wasn’t missing deadlines—these were the operational details that kept me afloat. Believe me, without it, I’d have been lost.

4. Contingency Planning: Preparing for the Unexpected

What is Contingency Planning?

Ah, contingency planning—the one nobody really likes to think about but is absolutely essential. It’s about being prepared for unexpected changes or challenges. When things don’t go as planned (and they often won’t), you need a backup plan.

Contingency planning involves identifying risks and creating alternative courses of action just in case things fall apart. This type of planning is more about mitigating damage than achieving a goal, but it’s crucial for staying resilient in tough times.

Why You Shouldn’t Overlook This

Well, I’ll admit it—contingency planning wasn’t always at the top of my mind. But I learned the hard way. A friend of mine once told me that his business had to deal with a major disruption due to a supplier issue. Thankfully, they had a contingency plan, and they were able to shift gears quickly. I took that lesson to heart!

5. Financial Planning: Managing Your Resources

What is Financial Planning?

Let’s talk about the dollars and cents! Financial planning is one of the most important types of planning because it helps you manage your money, whether you’re running a business or handling your personal finances. It’s about understanding your income, expenses, and how to allocate your resources effectively.

For a company, it involves budgeting, forecasting, and managing costs. On a personal level, it could be about saving for retirement, paying off debts, or even planning for a big purchase.

My Personal Struggles and Financial Planning

Honestly, this is one area I’ve had my struggles with. I remember when I started budgeting my personal finances more seriously. It wasn’t easy at first, but having a clear financial plan made a huge difference. I was able to save more, invest better, and just have peace of mind knowing where my money was going. If you haven’t started planning your finances yet, I highly recommend it.

6. Project Planning: Breaking Down Specific Tasks

What is Project Planning?

Project planning is all about breaking down a specific project into smaller, manageable tasks and milestones. It’s super detailed and often includes setting deadlines, assigning responsibilities, and tracking progress. It’s one of the most common types of planning in both businesses and personal projects.

A Time I Used Project Planning Effectively

A few months ago, I worked on a personal project that involved launching an online store. The sheer amount of tasks was overwhelming, but once I started project planning, everything became clear. I broke the project down into phases—website development, product sourcing, marketing strategy—and followed a timeline. It helped me stay organized and ensured that I didn’t miss any steps.

Conclusion: Embrace the Power of Planning

Honestly, now that I’ve learned about the six types of planning, I see how important it is to embrace each one in different contexts. Whether it’s strategic planning for your career or project planning for a new business, every type of planning has its place. The key is to align them with your goals and constantly adjust when necessary.

So, what kind of planning will you start using today? It’s never too late to organize your life—or your business—more efficiently. Try out some of these planning strategies and watch how they can transform your approach to challenges!

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.