Introduction
Welcome back to the weekly newsletter.
We tend to spend a lot of time thinking about outcomes. The promotion. The savings target. The fitness goal. The qualification. The next big milestone. But there is a problem with outcomes: we cannot fully control them. What we can control is what we repeatedly do to make them more likely.
This week, I want to focus on a simple tactical-planning principle that helps turn an ambitious goal into something much easier to manage.
Weekly highlight: Define the 2–3 controllable to drive outcome every week.
First, define the result you are trying to achieve. For example:
Get promoted to a Finance Director role within the next 12 months.
This gives you direction. But “get promoted” is not an action. You cannot put it in your calendar and complete it on Tuesday afternoon.
There are also factors outside your control: vacancies, organizational changes, your manager, competitors for the role, or business performance.
So the goal is your destination. Now you need to identify what actually moves you toward it.
2. Find the Few Actions That Drive the Result
Ask yourself:
If I consistently did only three things for the next three months, which actions would most improve my chances of success?
For the promotion example, they might be:
- Own one problem that is clearly above your current level.
- Build stronger relationships with senior decision-makers.
- Make your measurable business impact visible.
There may be 20 other useful things you could do. That is exactly why you need to choose. Tactical planning is not about listing every possible action. It is about identifying the few that matter disproportionately.
3. Make Each Move Measurable
“Build my network” is not a useful Leading Move.
Neither is:
- “Exercise more.”
- “Save money.”
- “Learn faster.”
You need to translate each one into something you can actually track.
For example:
- Career: Have one meaningful conversation with a senior stakeholder each week.
- Health: Complete three strength-training sessions each week.
- Finances: Transfer £500 into savings immediately after payday.
The more specific the move is, the easier it becomes to execute.
4. Track the Move Weekly, Not the Goal
Suppose you are trying to find a new job.
This week you:
- applied for five highly relevant roles;
- spoke with three recruiters;
- contacted four people in your network.
But you did not receive an offer.
Was it a bad week? Not necessarily. Job offers are a lagging result. Your outreach, applications, and conversations are leading actions. So your weekly review should focus first on:
Did I execute the actions I committed to?
The final outcome still matters. But you should not expect every long-term goal to produce visible results every seven days.
5. Check Whether Your Moves Are Actually Working
There is one important warning.
Executing the wrong tactic consistently does not make it a good tactic. Every few weeks, review whether your Leading Moves are creating evidence of progress.
If you are networking every week but none of those conversations create useful relationships, perhaps the quality or target of your networking needs to change.
If you are studying five hours every week but your capability is not improving, perhaps your learning method is wrong.
Do not immediately change the goal. First ask whether you have chosen the right moves.
Application
Take one important goal you are currently pursuing. Write it at the top of a page. Then answer:
- What is the outcome? Be specific.
- What are the three actions most likely to create it? Avoid creating a long list. Choose three.
- What does successful execution look like this week? Give each move a number, deadline, or clear definition of completion.
Your plan might look like this:
- Goal: Secure my next senior leadership role.
- Leading Move 1: Submit 5 highly targeted applications.
- Leading Move 2: Have 3 conversations with recruiters or senior contacts.
- Leading Move 3: Make 2 direct approaches to companies I would genuinely like to join.
Then review those three numbers at the end of the week.
That is your tactical scorecard.
Summary
Goals tell you where you want to go. Leading Moves tell you what to do now. Do not manage ten tactics when three will determine most of the result. Find the moves that matter. Then execute them relentlessly.
Till Next Time,
Maciej
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