Soar to Success June 2019

M any of my clients initially dread the strategic planning process. They believe that it is an exercise in futility – many feel that the plans they create might not be rooted in reality. My question to them? Why not? Any plan, strategic or tactical, should very definitely be rooted in reality. The plans do not need to be overly complex or difficult to create. In fact, the plan should be a summary of your very best thinking about the direction you’d like to guide your company over the next year or two. “Very best thinking” doesn’t mean that you have a crystal ball and can predict the future with complete and total accuracy. It does, however, mean that you will apply your best thinking along with your hopes and dreams for your company to the reality of your company position and create a road map for moving forward. What should you understand prior to embarking on a plan? Primarily, know what it is you want to build, and why your company is better, stronger, more interesting, or more competitive than other similar companies. You’ll also need some ideas about how you’d like to grow your company; or how you’d like to maintain your competitive advantage. Strategic Planning CAN be Simple! By Megan Patton