Action Plan Confidence Check: The Key to Successful Next Steps Towards Your Goals
Break down your outcome goals into small, manageable, and meaningful actions.
Ambitious professionals often set themselves up for frustration with overly lofty goals. The pressure to perform at work and achieve personal milestones can make you feel like you need to go all in—fast. But here's the truth: sustainable success comes not from trying to do it all but from selecting actions that are challenging but doable.
When you choose actions that push you just enough to stretch your capacity, yet are still within reach, you create a pathway for steady, consistent progress. This balance of challenge and doability is where success lies.
In this article, we’ll look at how to design action plans that are challenging enough to move you toward your outcome goals while also being grounded in what you can actually achieve. And if you ever find yourself lacking confidence in a specific action, I’ll provide a framework for understanding why and how you can recalibrate your plan to stay on track.
The Importance of Challenging but Doable Actions
The greatest mistake high achievers make when pursuing new goals is overcommitting to actions that feel too easy or too hard. When you select an action that feels easy, it may not stimulate enough growth or lead to meaningful change. On the flip side, actions that feel too hard, especially for those in recovery from burnout, can feel discouraging and can even backfire—leading to overwhelm or the feeling that you’ve failed before you even begin.
To successfully meet your goals, the sweet spot lies in actions that are challenging but doable—just enough of a stretch to challenge your current habits, but not so overwhelming that they trigger stress or burnout. This approach requires not only awareness of what is possible for you but also an honest assessment of where you stand today in terms of skill, knowledge, and resources.
Outcome Goals vs. Behavior Goals: The Foundation of Your Plan
Before we dig into how to create your action plan, it’s important to understand the difference between outcome goals and behavior goals:
Outcome goals are the big-picture results you’re striving for, such as “I want to reduce stress,” “I want to eat more nutrient-dense meals,” or “I want to gain muscle mass.”
Behavior goals are the specific actions you take to achieve your outcome goals, such as “I will meditate for 10 minutes every morning,” “I will meal prep every Sunday,” or “I will eat a protein-rich breakfast every day.”
To achieve your outcome goal, your behavior goals need to be actionable and realistic. If your behavior goals are too daunting or outside your current capacity, you won’t be able to consistently follow through. On the flip side, if your behavior goals are too simple, they might not push you toward the change you seek.
The goal is to select actions that feel challenging but doable—enough to move the needle without overwhelming you.
How to Create an Action Plan That Works
In my coaching practice, I use a tool called the Action Commitment Worksheet to help clients break down their goals into small, daily actions. Here’s a more in-depth look at how you can use this worksheet to create your own plan:
1. Choose Your Skill and Practice
Start by selecting the skill you want to develop in order to achieve your outcome goal. If your outcome goal is to reduce stress, for instance, the skill could be mindfulness. If your goal is to improve your physical health, the skill might be nutrition or exercise.
Then, identify a practice that will help you build that skill. This could be daily meditation, a new workout routine, or planning balanced meals each week.
2. Identify Small, Daily Actions
Now, break down your practice into small, daily actions that are feasible. These should be actions that you can commit to consistently. For example, instead of committing to a 30-minute meditation session, you could aim for a 5-minute daily breathing exercise. This is small enough to be achievable but still challenging enough to make progress toward your outcome.
3. Confidence Scale: A Critical Self-Check
This is where it gets interesting. Once you've identified your small daily actions, ask yourself: How confident am I in my ability to follow through with this action?
On a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is “I can’t do this at all” and 10 is “I’m 100% confident I can do this,” rate your confidence.
This self-assessment is crucial. If your score is below 9, it’s an indication that your action might either be too difficult, or you may need additional support to feel confident.
Here’s where you can use motivational interviewing questions to explore what’s going on beneath the surface. If you rate your confidence an 8 or lower, ask yourself:
Why did I rate my confidence this way?
What specific concerns or obstacles do I foresee?
Is this action too big for me right now? Or am I lacking the knowledge, resources, or practice to execute it effectively?
What would make me feel more confident about this action?
Is there a way to simplify the action so it feels more achievable? (For example, reducing the time commitment or breaking it into smaller, more manageable steps)
Are there specific skills or resources I need to acquire to increase my confidence?
How can I adjust my plan to make this action feel more doable?
Can I scale back the action temporarily and work my way up? For instance, if your goal is to meditate for 10 minutes every day but you’re not quite there yet, you could start with just 2 minutes and gradually increase over time.
What other support might I need? Do I need accountability from a friend, or perhaps a reminder system to help me stay on track?
By exploring these questions, you can either adjust the action to make it more manageable or increase your confidence by preparing better or gaining additional support. If necessary, scale back the action until your confidence is higher, then gradually build it up as your capacity grows.
4. Clarify, Confirm, and Prepare
After you've set your actions, it’s time to clarify how you'll measure progress:
For outcome goals: What are the metrics you’ll track? (e.g., stress levels, body composition, energy levels)
For behavior goals: How will you track your actions? (e.g., through an app, journaling, weekly reflections)
Also, make sure you have all the skills, resources, and supports you need. If your action requires new knowledge or tools (e.g., learning how to meal prep or setting up a meditation space), ensure you’ve got that covered.
5. Anticipate Challenges and Adjust as Needed
Life is unpredictable, and challenges will arise. Anticipate what obstacles might come up—whether it’s work deadlines, family obligations, or travel—and plan accordingly. If your action feels overwhelming, scale it back temporarily. The key is progress, not perfection.
Final Thoughts: Challenging but Doable Actions Lead to Real Success
Achieving your goals requires more than just willpower or lofty ambitions; it requires actionable steps that are challenging but doable. By breaking down your outcome goals into small, manageable actions, and regularly assessing your confidence and capacity, you’ll set yourself up for sustainable success.
When you face a lack of confidence, use motivational interviewing techniques to understand why and adjust your plan accordingly. This will not only ensure you’re choosing actions that are achievable but will also give you the tools to stay committed and consistently make progress.
Remember: Consistency in small, doable actions is what leads to lasting change.
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Article References
The sources cited in the article:
Psychology Psychology (PP). “The Science & Psychology of Goal Setting 101.” PP - Science & Psychology of Goal Setting
Sage Journals. "I Think I Can: Measuring Confidence in Goal Pursuit.” Sage Journals - Measuring Confidence in Goal Pursuit
Forbes. “The Importance of Self Confidence In Setting and Accomplishing Your Goals.” Forbes - Self Confidence in Goals
Forbes. “The 4 Confidence Commitments to Help You Achieve Your Goals.” Forbes - 4 Confidence Commitments for Goals
Verywell Mind (VM). “Self-Efficacy: Why Believing in Yourself Matters.” VM - Self Efficacy: Why Believing in Yourself Matters
Betterup. “Setting Goals for Success.” Betterup - Setting Goals for Success
