Action Plans

Action Plans complement our Coaching Programs and can be linked to a 1:1 Check-in. Action Plans created in a Check-in allow for managers and reps to leave the 1:1 with the same, clear documented items.

Action Plans can also exist independently outside of 1:1s in order to help create a focus on explicit steps needed to achieve a desired result.

How do Users know they are in an Action Plan?

How are agenda items marked complete?

When is an Action Plan complete?

What happens if an Action Plan is not completed?

What else do I need to know about Action Plans?

Interact with Action Plans

Once an Action Plan has been created for a specific employee, they will be notified via email and will be able to access the Action Plan within Ambition.

 ↳ Example Action Plan emails can be seen here.

Upon logging into Ambition, the User will be able to view:

• Who created the Action Plan via the title. ex. User's Name <> Creator's Name Action Plan
• The Action Plan's items --> Goal, Question, External URL, etc.
• Action Plan's Due Date and Time

Complete Agenda Items

The User can complete single Action Plan agenda items at a time, by clicking the Save Progress button, to allow for accurate tracking towards Action Plan completion.

Note: Goal Action Items will automatically be marked as complete once the Goal is reached.

If the Goal is completed but then updated and the target is no longer reached it will automatically revert the Action Plan's Goal agenda item to be incomplete.

If the Goal agenda item is marked as required, the Action Plan's completeness depends on Goal completion. If the Goal agenda item is required, we do not advise creating or using Goals where the Goal's End Date is after the Action Plan's Due Date.

Both the User and Manager will have access to viewing Action Plans at all times to allow for tracking towards completion.

When all required agenda items are complete, the user clicks Submit for Review. If an External URL agenda item is included in the Action Plan, the Action Plan will move to "Pending Approval" status. All other completed Action Plans will move to a "Completed" status.

Complete Action Plans

When all required Action Plan Items have been completed and submitted, the Action Plan will be marked as Complete and display the date on which the plan was completed.

The Due Date and Agenda Completed Date fields are not editable after completion.

An Action Plan's Due Date is set upon creation, and the Completion Date is set by Ambition when all action items are marked as Complete.

The Due Date can be edited while the Action Plan is in "Answers Due" or "Pending Approval" status.

Manage Action Plan Filters

In the left navigation via the Coaching > Action Plans view, any complete Action Plans will display a completed date and will be quickly filterable though Status: Complete.

The "Pending Approval" status is only applicable to Action Plans where the External URL agenda item is present and the item is marked as required. When marked as required, the External URL agenda item requires Manager approval after user submission, so after the user completes the Action Plan, the manager has to approve the External URL agenda item before the plan can be marked Complete.

Incomplete Action Plans

If any of an Action Plan's items are not completed by the Due Date, which is set upon creation, the Action Plan will move into the status "Expired" and the user can no longer work towards completing the Action Plan.

If an Expired Action Plan needs to be reopened, access the Reopen option. Through the Reopen option, a new Agenda Due Date will be selected and the Action Plan will be accessible for completion by the employee again.

If more appropriate to Excuse an Expired Action Plan, first access the Reopen option and select a new Due Date. Once the Action Plan is reopened, you can mark the Action Plan as Excused.

In the left navigation via the Coaching > Action Plans view, any incomplete Action Plans will display with an Expired tag and will be filterable though Status: Expired.

Action Plan FAQs

The Action Plans I created involve steps and goals that will take place over several days/weeks. Are reps able to save their progress as they knock out each goal?

Yes. Your reps have the option to save their progress as they fill out each question or item on your Action Plan. They can make changes to their Action Plan and save their progress as many times as they like until the Action Plan due date.

Can my reps skip required questions or tasks on their Action Plans?

No. Reps won't be able to submit their Action Plan for review until all of the required questions have been answered. An Action Plan can be submitted with optional items left blank.

Will I be able to receive a rep’s Action Plan as soon as they complete it?

Your reps are able to complete all of the questions and tasks on their Action Plan and then click “Save Progress.” The completed Action Plan won’t be submitted for your review until the agenda items are completed by the rep.

Can my direct reports change their answers after they’ve submitted an Action Plan?

Reps cannot change their replies after they’ve submitted their Action Plan, though they can leave comments under each agenda item.

A rep’s Action Plan expired. Can I reset the due date or reactivate the plan?

Reps receive a notification as soon as an Action Plan has been created, and can access it immediately. Once an Action Plan has expired, it can be reopened. The Action Plan's due date can also be edited at any time while the plan is in "Answers Due" or "Pending Approval" status.