Free MS Word Action Plan Templates - with How To

By Kate Eby | May 9, 2023

In this article, you’ll find the most useful free action plan templates in Microsoft Word format for project managers, employees, students, sales teams, mentors, and others.

On this page, you'll find six helpful Microsoft Word action plan templates, including an emergency action plan template with a crisis recovery section, a corrective performance improvement plan (PIP) action plan template, a SMART action plan template with room for an initial goal, a sales action plan template, and a student action plan template. Plus, learn how to create an action plan template in Microsoft Word.

Simple Action Plan Template for Microsoft Word

Simple Action Plan Template

Download the Simple Action Plan Template for Microsoft Word 

Use this simple action plan template to successfully plan and execute goals, and turn your objective into a reality. Enter the name of your goal, benchmarks for success, and details of your evaluation plan, so that you have clear criteria for successfully reaching the goal. You also have room to describe strategic actions, responsible parties, start and end dates, necessary resources, potential hazards, and the desired outcome. The template can help you outline the steps you need to take to achieve your goal. 

For free, customizable action item templates and resources, see this article on action item templates.

Emergency Action Plan Template for Microsoft Word

Emergency Action Plan Template

Download the Emergency Action Plan Template for Microsoft Word 

Solidify your organization’s emergency action plan with this comprehensive template that walks you through the steps to take during an emergency. Add a high-level outline of the plan, key contacts, recovery procedures, and more. Use the crisis recovery procedures section to list the key components to address immediately and the action to take in an emergency. 

Download free action plan templates in multiple formats to help ensure your action plan’s goals are on track.

Corrective PIP Action Plan Template for Microsoft Word

Corrective PIP Action Plan Template

Download the Corrective PIP Action Plan Template for Microsoft Word

This corrective performance improvement plan (PIP) action plan template helps employers, mentors, and others create a document with actionable steps that provide a clear path to success for employees or students. The template helps all involved parties understand what areas need improvement, any previously addressed issues, improvement goals, and expectations from the PIP process. A Goal Activities section facilitates listing activities that employee or student must achieve, as well as start and completion dates. 

Check out this article on corrective action plan templates and these performance improvement plan templates to find more resources and tools.

SMART Action Plan Template for Microsoft Word

SMART Action Plan Template

Download the SMART Action Plan Template for Microsoft Word 

Creating goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely (SMART) can help you ensure your plan of action shows clarity and direction. Use this SMART action plan template to create goals that are as concrete as possible, and to outline a way to measure them. This template is the perfect tool for employees and students alike to specify what they want to achieve, set a deadline, and decide how they will measure the achievement of that goal. 

Check out this article on action plan resources and templates in PDF format to ensure that your action plan’s goals are on track for success.

Sales Action Plan Template for Microsoft Word

Sales Action Plan Template

Download the Sales Action Plan Template for Microsoft Word

Use this sales action plan template to write sales-oriented goal statements, the actions needed to achieve them, the responsible parties or departments, and the due dates. You’ll find space to add resources and desired outcomes for each action. This template can help salespeople and managers clarify the components of a sales action plan, add action step descriptions, and note who is accountable for each action-plan item.

For free resources and templates related to sales action plans, check out our article on sales action plan templates.

Marketing Action Plan Template for Microsoft Word

Marketing Action Plan Template

Download the Marketing Action Plan Template for Microsoft Word

This marketing action plan template can help marketers set goals and identify the steps necessary to achieve them. Complete the Summary, Objectives, Problem, and Solution sections to clarify your marketing needs. There’s room to add granular details to your action plan, such as product, price, pace, promotion, marketing channels, and performance standards, as well as how you’ll measure results. 

Looking for a specific template? This collection of marketing action plan templates has options for specific disciplines such as social media and content marketing, as well as a presentation format.

Student Action Plan Template for Microsoft Word

Student Action Plan Template

Download the Student Action Plan Template for Microsoft Word 

Manage any student’s path to success with this student action plan template. Identify areas for improvement, set goals for academic-performance success, and enter a specific goal that your student can strive to achieve. Use the Standardized Assessments, Local Assessments, and Strategy Description sections to further refine the plan of action for the student to improve their educational results.

How to Create an Action Plan in Word

One way to create an action plan in Microsoft Word is to use an existing action plan template. To achieve your plan of action, write your goal at the top of the document, then include the steps to achieve it. 

  1. Provide Key Details About the Goal
    When starting to write an action plan, the first step is to identify your goal and how you will know when you achieve it. Add these sections to the top of your action plan:
    • Goal: Specify the desired outcome that you want to achieve through your action plan. The goal should provide the overall direction for the plan and set the tone for the specific actions necessary to achieve it. 
    • Benchmarks for Success: List the criteria you will use to measure progress, and determine whether your desired outcomes have been achieved by adding some key performance indicators (KPIs), such as customer satisfaction and client retention rate.
    • Evaluation Plan: Indicate the systematic process you will use to assess the success of your plan. Your plan-evaluation process might include collecting and analyzing the data, and then reporting the results.
  2. Explain the Steps to Take to Achieve the Goal
    The heart of an action plan are the steps you plan to take to achieve your goal. In this section of an action plan, you’ll want to add the following details:
    • Strategic Action Descriptions: Write a detailed description of the specific actions that need to be taken to achieve the desired outcomes. Break down these actions into smaller, specific, and manageable tasks.
    • Party or Department Responsible: List who’s responsible for delivering each strategic action in your action plan. 
    • Start and Due Dates: Add a start and end date for each action in your action plan. 
    • Resources Required: List any necessary resources for the specific action, including individuals, departments, and other resources, such as hardware, software, and facilities. 
    • Desired Outcome: Specify the desired outcome for each action in your plan. 
  3. Download an Action Plan Template
    An action plan template provides a structure for your plan and helps ensure that no key sections are missing. Download an editable action plan template in Microsoft Word to write your plan.
  4. Submit Your Action Plan
    Once you complete your action plan, submit it to your project sponsor, management, or executive(s) for approval, so that you can put your plan into action. 

    Remember: In a successful action plan, you state your goals, provide evidence for the need for achieving them, and then set concrete benchmarks that you must reach in order to achieve them. As a result, once you specify the foundational details of your plan, you can begin to execute it in incremental steps.

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