This Personal Action Plan compiled by a German student in November 2015 takes the exercise to a new level.

1. Goals
Teamwork Creating new variables Taking the initiative Finding Consensus
Current
skills
Skills to
work on
Arguing Linking Listening more Imposing Conditions
• Being able to
differentiate the
points worth
arguing about and
those that are not
• Not getting lost in
details and keeping
the bigger picture in
mind
• Prioritizing goals
relative to their
values/benefits
• Being able to link
factors
• Combine elements
that do not relate to
each other but still
combine to make a
greater whole
• Having a clear
landscape of factors
in mind to make
visual and cognitive
links in on the go
• Being able to
seperate the
emotional side from
the negotiation
• Have cues and
reminders to alert
myself when I am
becoming too
emotional
• Develop a more
rational/analytic
approach
• Keep patience
• Not giving in too
fast to the other
party
• Sticking to clear
argumentation,
even if the opposite
party is getting
emotional
• Exerting more
dominance
• Call bluffs

2. • Utensils for
visualisation
• Colored pens
• Post-its
• Creativity
• Discipline
• Mindmapping
software
• University / work
deadlines
• Physical
visualisation
utensils
• Cognitive
visualisation
techniques
• Mnemonics
• Creativity
• Abstract Thinking
• Inductive /
Deductive Thinking
• Standardized
scenarios /
boundaries
• Cognitive & physical
cues
• Real life interactions
• Non-emotional
models
• i.e. Numeric
• Poker game
strategies
• Bluffing
techniques
• Pot value
increasing
techniques
• Forcing the
opponent to
fold
• Appearance to
others
Resources
Arguing Linking Listening more Imposing ConditionsSkills to
work on
Goals
Bigger picture
Prioritizing
Unrelated variables
Cognitive map
Seperate emotion
Cues for self
More dominance
Identify bluffs

3. • Filtering /
compressing all
elements of 1 topic
onto 1 sheet
• Lectures
• Stories
• Break down
projects into steps
• Roadmap
• Prioritize steps
• Stick to plan!
• Use coding (color)
to make important
points stand out
• Cluster information
learned in lectures
• Commonalities
• Relationships
• Force content
from different
courses
together
• Use colors etc.
• Easier to see
relationships
• Use mnemonics to
have a picture in
mind, not just
words
• Increase self-
awareness on own
participation
• Let this trigger self-
reflection when I
have the urge to
interrupt/respond
too quickly
• Is he finished?
• Do others want
to share their
opinion?
• Am I letting
emotions get
to my head?
• Generate feedback
on appearance to
friends / classmates
• How do I come
across?
• Try to learn in real
life poker
• How can I tell
he is bluffing?
• ..extract more
value from
him?
• How can I
force him to
fold?
Action
Plan
Bigger picture
Prioritizing
Unrelated variables
Cognitive map
Seperate emotion
Cues for self
More dominance
Identify bluffsGoals
Resources
Visualisation utensils
University deadlines
Cognitive Visualisation
In-Deductive thinking
Standardized alerts
Mental cues
Poker strategies
Appearance
Until end of university Until end of university During all discussions Starting tomorrow