Leadership Action Plan

Educational PurposeThe Leadership Action Plan helps individuals move from reflection to specific leadership action.

It guides users through:

• Defining the leadership issue or opportunity.
• Clarifying the desired outcome.
• Identifying the people affected.
• Choosing practical action steps.
• Assigning responsibilities.
• Setting deadlines.
• Anticipating risks and barriers.
• Planning communication.
• Tracking implementation.
• Reviewing results and lessons learned.

A leadership action plan should be clear enough to guide progress while remaining flexible enough to adjust when circumstances change.

How to Use This Worksheet

Use this plan for:

• ☐A personal leadership goal
• ☐A workplace challenge
• ☐A team project
• ☐A communication issue
• ☐A trust-building need
• ☐A leadership transition
• ☐A change initiative
• ☐A conflict or difficult conversation
• ☐Developing another person
• ☐Improving a process
• ☐Completing an important commitment
• ☐Other: ______________________________

Complete each section in order:

• Define the situation.
• Separate facts from assumptions.
• Clarify the desired result.
• Identify affected people.
• Select specific actions.
• Assign responsibility and deadlines.
• Identify resources and support.
• Plan communication.
• Monitor progress.
• Review the outcome.

1. Action Plan Information

Type of action plan:

• ☐Individual
• ☐Team
• ☐Department
• ☐Business
• ☐Family
• ☐Community organization
• ☐Volunteer group
• ☐Professional organization
• ☐Other: ______________________________

2. Define the Leadership Situation

• ☐Urgent and important
• ☐Important but not immediately urgent
• ☐Routine but necessary
• ☐A long-term development need
• ☐A possible opportunity
• ☐Unsure

3. Facts and Assumptions

Separate what is known from what is believed or suspected.

4. Identify the Root Issue

The visible problem may be a symptom rather than the main cause.

Select all that apply:

• ☐Unclear expectations
• ☐Poor communication
• ☐Missing information
• ☐Lack of training
• ☐Limited resources
• ☐Unclear authority
• ☐Competing priorities
• ☐Inconsistent follow-through
• ☐Resistance to change
• ☐Poor planning
• ☐Emotional conflict
• ☐Broken trust
• ☐Unrealistic workload
• ☐Undefined responsibilities
• ☐Delayed decision-making
• ☐Other: ______________________________

• ☐A people issue
• ☐A process issue
• ☐A communication issue
• ☐A resource issue
• ☐A leadership issue
• ☐A knowledge or skill issue
• ☐A combination of several issues
• ☐Unsure

5. Define the Desired Outcome

6. Success Measures

Choose the evidence that will show progress or completion.

• ☐Deadline met
• ☐Task completed
• ☐Responsibility clarified
• ☐Communication improved
• ☐Fewer errors
• ☐Conflict reduced
• ☐Trust strengthened
• ☐Process documented
• ☐Training completed
• ☐Team participation improved
• ☐Decision implemented
• ☐Follow-up completed
• ☐Another person developed
• ☐Customer or member concern resolved
• ☐Other: ______________________________

• ☐Written notes
• ☐Checklist
• ☐Meeting summary
• ☐Project dashboard
• ☐Feedback
• ☐Performance data
• ☐Completed document or deliverable
• ☐Other: ______________________________

7. Identify the People Affected

8. Stakeholder Impact Review

9. Guiding Leadership Values

Select the values that should guide this plan.

• ☐Integrity
• ☐Honesty
• ☐Respect
• ☐Responsibility
• ☐Accountability
• ☐Fairness
• ☐Courage
• ☐Compassion
• ☐Service
• ☐Excellence
• ☐Trust
• ☐Stewardship
• ☐Confidentiality
• ☐Growth
• ☐Other: ______________________________

10. Consider Possible Approaches

11. Action Steps

12. Clarify Responsibility and Authority

For each person responsible, clarify what they are allowed to decide.

• ☐Daily
• ☐Weekly
• ☐Twice monthly
• ☐Monthly
• ☐At each milestone
• ☐Other: ______________________________

13. Required Resources

• ☐Day
• ☐Week
• ☐Month
• ☐Project phase

External professional support required:

• ☐Legal
• ☐Financial
• ☐Human resources
• ☐Healthcare
• ☐Counseling or mediation
• ☐Technology
• ☐Compliance
• ☐Other: ______________________________
• ☐None currently identified

14. Communication Plan

Communication methods:

• ☐Individual conversation
• ☐Team meeting
• ☐Email
• ☐Written notice
• ☐Presentation
• ☐Phone call
• ☐Video meeting
• ☐Text or messaging platform
• ☐Progress update
• ☐Other: ______________________________

15. Difficult Conversation Preparation

Complete when the action plan requires a challenging conversation.

16. Risk Review

17. Barriers and Solutions

Possible internal barriers:

• ☐Fear of criticism
• ☐Lack of confidence
• ☐Procrastination
• ☐Emotional reaction
• ☐Need for approval
• ☐Avoiding conflict
• ☐Poor time management
• ☐Inconsistent follow-through
• ☐Other: ______________________________

Possible external barriers:

• ☐Limited resources
• ☐Resistance from others
• ☐Lack of authority
• ☐Unclear policies
• ☐Competing priorities
• ☐Staffing limitations
• ☐Lack of information
• ☐Unexpected changes
• ☐Other: ______________________________

18. Timeline and Milestones

19. Progress Tracking

• ☐Not started
• ☐Beginning
• ☐In progress
• ☐Strong progress
• ☐Near completion
• ☐Completed
• ☐Paused
• ☐Revised

20. Weekly Leadership Action Review

Create one copy for each week.

21. Accountability Check-In

22. Decision Review

Use this section when an important decision is made during the plan.

23. Change or Adjustment Review

Plans may need revision when new information or circumstances appear.

• ☐No
• ☐Yes

24. Trust and Relationship Review

• ☐Strong
• ☐Generally positive
• ☐Uncertain
• ☐Strained
• ☐Significantly damaged

25. Completion Review

• ☐Fully completed
• ☐Mostly completed
• ☐Partly completed
• ☐Meaningful progress made
• ☐Paused
• ☐Discontinued
• ☐Replaced by a revised plan

• ☐Yes
• ☐Mostly
• ☐Partly
• ☐No
• ☐Too early to determine

• ☐All
• ☐Most
• ☐Some
• ☐Few
• ☐Not applicable

• ☐Yes
• ☐Mostly
• ☐Partly
• ☐No

• ☐Yes
• ☐Mostly
• ☐Partly
• ☐No

26. Results and Impact

27. Leadership Lessons Learned

28. Follow-Up Plan

29. My Next Leadership Action

30. Leadership Action Commitment