What is PDCA?

PDCA – short for Plan-Do-Check-Act – is a 4-step iterative process that helps you identify and bridge the gap between your current state and where you want to be. Rooted in the nature of PDCA, it encourages you to actually Take Action and learn from the outcomes. While PDCA can be applied to any (business) project or task, it is also very useful for personal development. It allows you to clearly define your goals, break them down into actionable items, monitor progress, evaluate and make necessary adjustments to stay on track, even when you lose motivation.

Plan

The first step in the PDCA Cycle is the Plan-phase. This phase is meant for creating a roadmap for all your goals and ambitions. Because without a clear understanding of what needs to be achieved and, more importantly, why it matters, motivation decreases faster and attention fades. And without a well-defined roadmap, the “next action” becomes vague, leaving you drifting in uncertainty.

🎯 To create such a roadmap, start by identifying your goals and ambitions. What are the major items you want to be working on, for example learning a new skill or reaching a certain health goal. Then start by transforming these into structured and focussed ones. To achieve this, use a tool like Notion or Evernote to create a dedicated space for each goal, allowing you to organise your Plan per goal, and so you can always look back when you lose focus. Then make every goal and ambition crystal clear by utilizing the SMART framework.

✅ In the end, you’ll have a notepad full of clear goals you can begin acting upon in the Do-Phase.

Do

Having a Plan is one thing; making it actually happen is something else. While this is the part where you actually turn your goals and ambitions into reality, this step is often neglected since this is where the hard work starts, and motivation can quickly fade. That is why having a well established Plan helps you keep motivation high by reminding yourself of why you started.

🎯 Determining where to start with your goal can be a significant challenge. The thought of everything you need to accomplish can feel overwhelming and might even hinder your progress. A practical approach is to focus on identifying the one thing you need to do next and simply start doing it—this is known as the next action principle. Create a dedicated calendar for this goal to maintain a clear overview of what needs to be done for each goal. Schedule an event for this next action to ensure it remains in sight, that time is specifically allocated to turning your goals into reality, and making rescheduling straightforward. Naturally, if you are aware of additional actions you need to take, you can start adding those to the calendar as well.

✅ In the end, you’ll have a list of concrete actions planned for each goal, ensuring they are actually achieved.

Check & Act

The next phase is all about keeping you on track with your goals. By scheduling moments to check up on your progress, you gain valuable insights into what is working and what isn’t. Evaluate the effectiveness of your strategies and identify areas for improvement. This step is crucial for ensuring that you remain aligned with your objectives and can make informed adjustments.

🎯 Every goal has its milestones—significant moments in time where you achieve a new level of progress, for example completing a course that helps you towards your ultimate goal. It’s advisable to schedule these check-in moments after reaching, or failing to reach, such a milestone. This timing strikes a balance between frequency and the effectiveness of the check-in. Having too many check-ins can be counterproductive, as they may not be as helpful and can take away valuable time that could be spent working on your goal. During these milestone check-ins, note whether the results you planned for were achieved, and if not, explore why and determine the way forward. This process provides valuable insights into the next actions to take.

✅ In the end, by incorporating these check-in moments for your goals and dedicating time to this (brief) evaluation, you are likely to gain valuable insights into the next steps needed to achieve your goal.

The Importance of Intrinsic Motivation

Intrinsic motivation is a crucial element in achieving your goals and ambitions, as it originates from an internal desire to grow and improve, rather than external pressures or rewards. This type of motivation is essential because it fuels persistence and resilience, even when faced with challenges or setbacks. When you are intrinsically motivated, you are more likely to engage deeply with your goals, find joy in the process, and maintain a long-term commitment to your personal growth.