Start, Stop, Continue, Change
“You are one decision away from a completely different life” - Mel Robbins
The Start, Stop, Continue process was first developed by Phil Daniels, a psychology professor at Brigham Young University. It’s often used in corporate settings, particularly for teams working on large or complex projects.
However, I first came across this process on Mel Robbins’ podcast, where she shared that her family does the exercise together every New Year, but you can do this exercise at any time - I personally use it I’m feeling overwhelmed, or when things aren’t going as expected. It helps me to review and simplify my approach, reduce any anxiety and feel centred again.
In this post, I’ll be sharing how this tool can work for you as a purpose-driven individual, and how it can be adapted to guide new community groups, small charities, or social entrepreneurs on their journey.
When I first did this exercise, I got to the end and felt like something was missing. There were things I wanted to include that felt relevant, but didn’t quite fit into the Start, Stop, or Continue categories. So, I added another column for Change. These were things where I saw potential, or things I wanted to work but weren’t quite working yet. They needed adapting or testing before I could confidently decide whether they should fall under Continue or Stop.
I’ve created a template that you can use for this exercise.
I’ll go through it using a couple of examples.
Someone with an idea to make a difference in their community. Imagine they want to bring together local volunteers to clear the litter that’s built up along a popular public footpath.
A small but growing charity delivering creative workshops in care homes.
Start
Focus on actions, ideas, or strategies that will move your project forward. These are the things you haven't yet done but will be key to getting your next chapter off the ground.
Prompts:
Who do I need to reach out to?
Litter: Consider local organisations, community leaders, or potential volunteers you can connect with.
Creative workshops: Local care homes, wellbeing boards, GP surgeries.What resources do I need?
Litter: Litter pickers, gloves, safety equipment, and promotional materials.
Creative workshops: Materials for workshops (paints, art supplies, musical instruments), volunteers, and funding for supplies/travel.How can I start raising awareness or gathering support?
Litter: Local social media, flyers, speaking to local businesses, or engaging in community groups to recruit volunteers.
Creative workshops: Use social media, local press, or care home networks to publicise the workshops and connect with volunteers or donors.
Stop
Identify actions or habits that are hindering progress or wasting time. These are the things that aren’t serving your project and need to be stopped to make room for more impactful actions.
Prompts:
What’s not working in my current approach?
Litter: Maybe the previous outreach methods haven't attracted enough volunteers or local business support.
Creative workshops: Are you still using outdated communication methods with care homes?Am I spending too much time on unimportant tasks?
Litter: Are you over-complicating your planning or spending excessive time on small, unimportant details?
Creative workshops: Are you stuck on administrative tasks like too much paperwork that could be simplified?Is there anything causing confusion or miscommunication?
Litter: Are your volunteer sign-up forms unclear, or are there miscommunications around where and when to meet for the clean-up event?
Creative workshops: Is the process of coordinating with care homes or managing volunteers unclear or inconsistent?
Continue
Focus on actions or strategies that are already working well and bringing value to your project. These are the things that are helping move your efforts forward and should be maintained or even built upon.
Prompts:
What’s already generating interest or support?
Litter: Perhaps a local school or business has offered to sponsor the clean-up or provide volunteers.
Creative workshops: Maybe your workshops have received positive feedback, or a care home is asking for more sessions.Which partnerships or collaborations are working well?
Litter: Do you have strong partnerships with local businesses or environmental groups that are helping the clean-up efforts?
Creative workshops: Has a local art group or volunteer organisation been particularly supportive?What methods have helped keep me organised or motivated?
Litter: Perhaps you’ve been using a simple project management tool or social media groups to keep track of progress and communicate with volunteers.
Creative workshops: Is there a particular scheduling tool or volunteer management system that helps you stay on track?
Change
Consider areas that need action or improvement. These are things that aren’t working yet or could be made more efficient. These require testing or tweaking before deciding whether they should continue or be stopped.
Prompts:
What aspects of the project could be more efficient or effective?
Litter: Could you streamline the process for coordinating volunteers or handling waste disposal?
Creative workshops: Are there ways to make the workshops more engaging or impactful for the residents?Are there any tools or methods that aren’t quite fitting?
Litter: Maybe your current volunteer sign-up system isn’t working, or you’re not getting enough reach with your promotional materials.
Creative workshops: Is there a better communication platform to connect with care homes or manage contact with staff and follow-up with residents?What’s not gaining as much traction as expected?
Litter: Maybe your social media posts aren’t getting enough attention, or the turnout for clean-up events hasn’t been as high as you’d hoped.
Creative workshops: Has your outreach to potential volunteers or care homes been slower than expected, and if so, what can be improved?
You can download the template below, and once you've answered these questions, take a moment to reflect on your responses. Let them guide you towards a simple action plan and clear next steps that feel realistic and aligned with your goals.
Once you’ve completed it, I’d love to hear how you found the process, and if it helped you make any changes or decisions.
Looking for support or inspiration? Explore my free resources, browse toolkits & courses, or work with me directly.
Rachel x