The seven-phase approach: free template

The worksheet

Name

Date

How to use it

Start with the phase you’re in. It doesn’t have to be phase one.
Keep your answers short and honest. Bullet points are fine.
Tick a phase when you’ve done enough to move on. You can always come back.

Fill it in here or on paper. Nothing you type is saved or sent anywhere: it stays in this browser tab and disappears when you close it, so print or save it as a PDF to keep a copy.

Phase 1 of 7

Reflect

Notice what’s prompting the change.

What’s working in my career right now?

What isn’t, and how long has it felt that way?

Done enough to move on

Phase 2 of 7

Assess

Take stock of where you stand.

What am I good at, and what do people come to me for?

What would I need to learn or show for the next step?

Done enough to move on

Phase 3 of 7

Explore

Widen the options before you narrow them.

Three possible next moves (staying and changing how I work counts as one):

Who could I talk to about each of them?

Done enough to move on

Phase 4 of 7

Decide

Choose a direction you can commit to for now.

The option I’m choosing, and why:

What I’m saying no to, for now:

Done enough to move on

Phase 5 of 7

Plan

Turn the decision into steps with dates.

My first three steps, each with a date:

Who needs to know, and what support do I need?

Done enough to move on

Phase 6 of 7

Act

Take the first step, then the next.

What I did this week:

What got in the way, and what I’ll try instead:

Done enough to move on

Phase 7 of 7

Review

Look back, learn, and decide what’s next.

What changed because of what I did?

What I’d do differently, and which phase I’ll go back to:

Done enough to move on

A note on the name: the seven phases are a plain, general structure for any career move or coaching programme. They aren’t taken from a published model.

A note on these templates. They’re prompts for reflection and planning, not assessments, and not therapy, medical or financial advice. Keep anything confidential, like colleagues’ names, somewhere private.

Want to talk it through?

Bring what you’ve written to a free 30-minute discovery call, online. We’ll look at it together and work out a sensible next step. There’s no obligation to go further.