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Getting
your management team on the same page thinking in a forward direction,
without blinders, is the very essence of strategic planning.
Easy to do, right...?  WRONG!
But,
our uncommonly sensible
approach can make your strategic planning seem easier.
First of all, we break planning into seven steps and three categories:
1)
preplanning 2)
planning 3)post
planning
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Ideally, these steps span at least 60-90 days to allow your team time
to gather the needed information, "dwell" on the process, consider
alternatives and develop consensus. I meet briefly with key managers
at the beginning; assign weekly projects to keep the process going;
and then, I (along with some associates) conduct a two-day workshop to
help you to pull all of the pieces together and to make sure your plans
are internally consistent.
The
two day program can run consecutively or be separated by several weeks,
depending on your requirements.
Day
One
Guiding
your team:
- To
create your
company's Vision, Value and Mission statements.
- Through
a situational analysis. This includes a traditional "SWOT
analysis" of internal strengths and weaknesses, external opportunities
and threats; a look at your competitive positions, market trends
and so forth.
- Toward
developing corporate objectives.
These will be honed until they are specific, achievable and measurable.
Day
Two
Focusing
your team:
- On
drafting a positioning statement. This forces you to define
your corporate differentiation and place in the market, with a focus
on your company or brand's benefit and reasons why (support for that
benefit).
- On
developing strategies by function. It is most important here
to consider multiple strategies for each objective before selecting
those judged best.
- On
laying out a tactical, action plan with steps, timing, responsibilities,
milestones, and monitoring methods all defined.
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