Master the Art of Strategic Planning & Stop Working In a World Without GPS

Strategic planning is like the GPS for your journey to success – it keeps you on track, helps you navigate the challenges, and ensures you reach your destination with confidence. Without it, we find ourselves wandering aimlessly, squandering precious time and resources on detours and dead ends, uncertain of where we’re headed or how to get there. Running your business without a strategic plan in place is much like driving in a world without GPS.

Here’s why it’s the unsung hero of achievement:

• Get clarity…a clear vision leads to a clear win!
• Maximize resources
• Pivot & adapt to a VUCA world
• Enables team synergy
• learn from the past
• Build confidence & set clear direction
• Anticipate trends and opportunities

From Mission and Vision to Actionable Steps

Let’s break down the steps…

Step 1: Gather

• Purpose: Pre-planning ensures essential information is gathered and key stakeholders are equipped and ready to make magic happen.
• Actions: Get the meetings on the calendar. Set meeting agendas and distribute to key stakeholders so they can gather the data in their respective departments and show up ready, willing, and able. Communicate expectations. Determine who is involved in decision-making and who has the final say. Find an inspiring venue that also has delectable food options, you’re going to need nourishment for the journey ahead. 

Step 2: Assess Current State

• Purpose: Awareness is always the first step. Yes, I said it. Always. We need to revisit our mission, vision, and values because these serve as our North Star and help guide the selection of priorities that align with our why and our what. Reviewing previous years’ data, which can be overwhelming, and the lessons learned is invaluable. 
• Actions: Review mission, vision, and values. Look at the organizational chart and company culture to determine alignment and needs. Review financials, workforce, and market. Discuss changes that need to be made. Find and use the tools and framework that supports building and executing your plan.

Step 3: Define Priorities

• Purpose: Once we are aware of what we do better than anyone else in our market, we need to decide which 1-3 priorities we will focus on in the year(s) ahead to secure our market position. Expect passionate discussions on this day. Pro tip: make sure you communicate the theme your priorities represent. Bonus points if it can be summarized in a powerful word or inspiring slogan. 
• Actions: Ask the important questions. Explore options and possibilities. Refine the list of options. Narrow the list of options and assign a champion to analyze and present each priority for questions and discussion. Decide which priorities make the cut, your top 3. Determine measures of success. 

Step 4: Align & Assign

• Purpose: This step answers the what by when and the who. We have enjoyed a stimulating, sometimes heated, discussion involving all things tangible and intangible. Now it’s time to divide and conquer. The key here is to play to everyone’s strengths. Give the right job to the right person, give them the resources they need to do their job well, and get out of their way. 
• Actions: Assign a champion to each priority. Create an action plan that aligns with each priority. Review & Refine. Consider contingency plans. Bust out the RACI Chart and get it all on paper. Schedule upcoming review meetings and get them on everyone’s calendar. Bonus points for an agenda attached to the meeting invite. Gold stars if you hire an executive coach to serve as your strategic advisor and implementation partner. 

Congratulations!! You have a plan in place to reach your destination and have identified the milestones along the way. You have an amazing team that is excited for what’s to come and everyone has a clear understanding of their role.

That, my friend, is strategic planning in a nutshell. You have answered the three key questions: Where are we now? Where are we going? How will we get there? 

Simple? Yes.

Easy? No. But, why not? Shouldn’t it be a smooth ride from here on out? 

Well…Once we have a plan, the real fun (ahem, work) begins. 

Implementation. 

Many find the planning process somewhat enjoyable due to its formulaic process which establishes clear priorities and tangible actions. The often messy and not-so-fun part is that of gathering forces, communicating the action plan, and working out the kinks. Every. Single. Day. 

Then there are the regularly scheduled meetings to assess and review progress, ensure objectives are met within budgetary guidelines, and that the results are realized. This is where many go astray. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be that way. 

If you find yourself in an implementation pickle, I suggest getting an executive coach to serve as your strategic advisor to keep you on track and moving forward. Not sure who to call? Reach out, I can help you. 

While the steps in the process are straightforward, the nuanced questions that lead to the answers you seek can be elusive. Personally, I find a sounding board (or my own board of directors and executive advisors) extremely helpful in crafting a future that aligns with my mission, vision, and values. I also have a coach. Which may surprise you. I’ll let you in on a little secret…the best coaches have coaches too, because no one should do this alone. 

Good news! If you struggle with the process, or don’t have one, I have been working on a DIY strategic planning workshop set to launch soon. I would love to know…which part of planning for the future is most challenging for you? Reach out and I will be sure to cover it in the workshop!

Need help with strategic planning? Let’s Talk.