When is A Strategic Plan Not A Strategic Plan?
Good morning! It's a greeting our family uses every day.
Now down to business.
Do you have a strategic plan? By now you know that I am big on having a clear vision. It's a critical part of having an inclusive culture that rocks.
Creating a strategic plan can be daunting. And it can, at times, feel like it's a lot of work for something that may or may not be useful in dealing with the day-to-day demands of leading your teams and running a business.
When a Strategic Plan is Not a Strategic Plan
There are all sorts of books and examples out there on how to write a strategic plan, but what is a strategic plan really?
It's a culmination of a process, a process to develop clarity around your strategic vision. Yes... the vision thing again. (Click Here if you want to book a 15 minute call with me and get laser focused on your strategic plan).
Think of it as a roadmap. So say you want to get to New York City. Without a map, you're apt to just wander.
A well thought out strategic plan is really a strategic vision that incorporates input from key stakeholders, honors the company's history and serves to put into action mission and values.
This then becomes the north star that impacts your business from hiring and on-boarding to critical decision making. In short, it should be a manifestation of the unique culture of your organization.
Why Do Most Strategic Plans Fail?
Here are seven of the common missteps in creating a strategic plan that has real meaning and value across all parts of your company:
Ignoring the organization's history including the big wins, the losses and lessons learned.
Not understanding and incorporating the culture that already exists (see 1. above).
Not creating a shared vision.
Not honestly assessing the strengths and weaknesses of your teams and your organization.
Misjudging the environment and external threats and opportunities.
Lacking flexibility. When you hit roadblocks - which you will - you want to be able to pivot and keep momentum moving forward.
Not communicating frequently and often. The strategic vision, mission and values are touchstones that should be reinforced with regular frequency.
Final thoughts
Your strategic vision is a living and breathing manifestation of the culture, history, and aspirations for what the future holds for you and everyone in the organization.
Done properly with an eye on the desired future state, it will foster clarity of purpose that is integrated with your culture and embedded throughout your company.
And remember: Communicate, Communicate, Communicate.
Until next time!
P.S. If you would like to brainstorm or strategize in a laser coaching session, then schedule a 15 minute call here. I'm happy to jump on a call with you to see how you can create and implement an effective strategic vision that will last.