To manage poor planning effectively in project management, consider these best practices:

1. **Define Clear Objectives**: Establish specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) objectives for the project to guide planning efforts.

2. **Conduct Thorough Research**: Gather relevant data and conduct environmental scans to understand all factors that could impact the project.

3. **Involve Stakeholders Early**: Engage key stakeholders in the planning process to gather insights and ensure alignment on project goals and expectations.

4. **Develop a Detailed Project Plan**: Create a comprehensive project plan that outlines scope, tasks, timelines, resource allocation, and dependencies.

5. **Use Project Management Tools**: Utilize software and tools that can help streamline planning, track progress, and manage resources effectively.

6. **Establish Milestones**: Set clear milestones to evaluate progress and make adjustments as needed to stay on track.

7. **Risk Assessment and Contingency Planning**: Identify potential risks early and develop mitigation strategies, as well as contingency plans for unforeseen issues.

8. **Regular Review and Updates**: Review the project plan regularly and update it to reflect any changes in scope or circumstances.

9. **Provide Training and Resources**: Ensure that the project team has the necessary skills and resources to carry out their tasks effectively.

10. **Post-Project Review**: After project completion, conduct a review to analyze what worked well and what didn't in the planning phase, using those insights to improve future planning.

By implementing these best practices, you can create a more robust planning process that enhances the likelihood of meeting project milestones and overall success.

Would you like to delve deeper into any specific area, like tools for project planning or techniques for stakeholder engagement?