As a new instructor I learned that planning and preparation stages are not just preliminary steps but the foundation of any successful project. I learned that effective planning requires a balance between setting rigid goals and maintaining the flexibility to adapt to unforeseen challenges. One key takeaway for me was the "Planning Fallacy"—the tendency to underestimate the time and resources needed for a task. Moving forward, I plan to incorporate more "buffer time" into my project timelines to account for these psychological biases. Proper preparation reduces anxiety and ensures that when execution begins, the focus can remain on quality rather than crisis management.
