Taking the time once a year to bring your management team together for a day or two of carefully organized, purposely lead strategic planning (followed by quarterly, one day updates) can be an invaluable way to gain focus, clarity, confidence and commitment to the shared goals and vision of the organization.
Yes, even in these times of uncertainty, if fact, especially in these unprecedented times, planning is essential for companies who aim to be on the positive side of economic recovery. The opportunity to create greater distance between you and your competitors is greatest when the path forward seems less certain. Let that uncertainty be your competitor’s problem!
That’s why we developed the following ten-step approach for strategic planning which, when properly organized and professionally facilitated, can bring about outstanding results.
These ten steps frame the planning agenda. Each sets the stage for deep, meaningful discussion, dialogue and debate among the management team that organize, galvanize, and focus the collective energy and effort of the entire organization.[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1614798996306{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/12″ css=”.vc_custom_1614799290403{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”1.” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:right|color:%23003399″ google_fonts=”font_family:Open%20Sans%3A300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C600%2C600italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C800%2C800italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1614802627730{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”11/12″ css=”.vc_custom_1614799084956{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1614799137554{margin-top: 0px !important;}”]Mission: Why do we exist? What business are we in and who are we here to serve (stakeholders: identified as those who would feel a sense of loss should the organization cease to exist).[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1614799002000{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/12″ css=”.vc_custom_1614799277500{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”2.” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:right|color:%23003399″ google_fonts=”font_family:Open%20Sans%3A300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C600%2C600italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C800%2C800italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1614802643759{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”11/12″ css=”.vc_custom_1614799089764{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1614799144406{margin-top: 0px !important;}”]Values: What are our non-negotiable standards of organizational behaviors? How will they be monitored? What are our performance standards and how do they combine with these behavioral standards to form the review/evaluation process?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1614799009071{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/12″ css=”.vc_custom_1614799262808{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”3.” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:right|color:%23003399″ google_fonts=”font_family:Open%20Sans%3A300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C600%2C600italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C800%2C800italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1614802656929{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”11/12″ css=”.vc_custom_1614799096687{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1614799151877{margin-top: 0px !important;}”]Vision: What are we building toward? What is it we aspire to become and how will moving closer to our stated vision impact our stakeholders?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1614799017089{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/12″ css=”.vc_custom_1614799246310{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”4.” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:right|color:%23003399″ google_fonts=”font_family:Open%20Sans%3A300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C600%2C600italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C800%2C800italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1614802670264{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”11/12″ css=”.vc_custom_1614799103961{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1616183299601{margin-top: 0px !important;}”]COS (rather than SWOT): What are our Concerns, Opportunities and Strengths (unique strengths). These unique strengths form the foundation for our operational strategies.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1614799022644{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/12″ css=”.vc_custom_1614799231322{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”5.” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:right|color:%23003399″ google_fonts=”font_family:Open%20Sans%3A300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C600%2C600italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C800%2C800italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1614802691617{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”11/12″ css=”.vc_custom_1614799110012{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1614799166701{margin-top: 0px !important;}”]Future Business History™: Starting five years out, what would we have to have accomplished for us to feel good about our progress? Then three years, then one year. What needs to be true or in place to meet our one-year, three-year and five-year targets?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1614799022644{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/12″ css=”.vc_custom_1614799221290{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”6.” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:right|color:%23003399″ google_fonts=”font_family:Open%20Sans%3A300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C600%2C600italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C800%2C800italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1614802702012{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”11/12″ css=”.vc_custom_1614799110012{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1616183429610{margin-top: 0px !important;}”]Objectives: One-year targets expressed in specific, measurable terms. This is a key part of our annual operating plan.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1614799022644{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/12″ css=”.vc_custom_1614799221290{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”7.” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:right|color:%23003399″ google_fonts=”font_family:Open%20Sans%3A300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C600%2C600italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C800%2C800italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1614802804434{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”11/12″ css=”.vc_custom_1614799110012{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1614801965453{margin-top: 0px !important;}”]Strategies: How will we leverage our unique strengths to maximize our best opportunities for growth and success.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1614799022644{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/12″ css=”.vc_custom_1614799221290{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”8.” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:right|color:%23003399″ google_fonts=”font_family:Open%20Sans%3A300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C600%2C600italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C800%2C800italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1614802715993{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”11/12″ css=”.vc_custom_1614799110012{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1616183574770{margin-top: 0px !important;}”]Tactics: Over the next 90 days, what do we need to accomplish, organizationally and departmentally to meet our one-year targets? A “champion” is assigned for each item, someone to ensure the requirement is carried out. Since reporting out occurs every 90 days, staying on target is made easier.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1614799022644{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/12″ css=”.vc_custom_1614799221290{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”9.” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:right|color:%23003399″ google_fonts=”font_family:Open%20Sans%3A300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C600%2C600italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C800%2C800italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1614802727998{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”11/12″ css=”.vc_custom_1614799110012{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1614802035984{margin-top: 0px !important;}”]One Page Business Plan: All 8 items listed above are captured in summary form providing a simple, concise tool enabling managers to stay focused and on track. This also makes it easy and efficient to communicate the plan organization-wide.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1614799022644{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/12″ css=”.vc_custom_1614799221290{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”10.” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:right|color:%23003399″ google_fonts=”font_family:Open%20Sans%3A300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C600%2C600italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C800%2C800italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1614802739224{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”11/12″ css=”.vc_custom_1614799110012{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1614802075167{margin-top: 0px !important;}”]Quarterly, one-day review/recap meetings to assess progress and determine next 90-day tactics. This 90-day review process enables the management team to stay on track and to adjust to changing circumstances as the year unfolds.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]Following this ten-step process can bring any organization to a higher level of planning, performance, and success. For more information, including details on preparing for the planning process, let’s set up a brief call.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
0 Comments