Strategic Planning

Have you got a strategic plan in place for your business?

Having a thorough strategic plan minimises distractions, aligns teams on priorities and guides organisations to focus on business priorities day-to-day.

But how do we get there?

It’s important to take stock of the year you’ve had and realign in preparation for planning another successful year ahead.   

For most organisations, there is often so much to do and so little time! So, how do we know what to focus on in the next 3-5 years and then build it into our planning for the next year?

How do we collectively consider and plan for the “urgent” and the “important” things and minimise distractions? Considering and planning for these “things” at a strategic level may help you address these concerns… 

Firstly, let’s understand the difference between strategic planning and tactical planning… 

In a game of sports, both strategy and tactics contribute to a successful outcome for a team or player. The strategy focuses on the end goal – the longer-term outcome. Tactics are the play-by-play steps taken to achieve this.  

Without a strategy, it is difficult to know what the right tactics are and how to communicate it to the rest of the team. Similarly, in an organisation, a strategic plan helps you articulate what the big, long-term vision is for your organisation which then allows you to effectively set a tactical plan to achieve it

Think of a strategic plan as a compass to guide you home. It gives you direction and is unwavering, even on a long and winding path. 

A strategic plan can help teams or organisations: 

By understanding, at the highest level, what the priorities of the organisation are, it helps make business decisions easier. If an initiative or project does not align with the strategy, it should not be a priority.   

When everything is a priority, nothing is a priority

– Karen Martin

Planning at a strategic level can sometimes be challenging for an organisation. Here is a checklist of the typical elements of a strategic plan and some tips to consider for each: 

A laptop with a checklist written on a notepad.

While a strategic plan is effective in establishing a roadmap of activities for an extended period, it is important for organisations to be agile during this time. Regularly reassessing and understanding when to pivot will make strategic organisations more resilient to change. 

Having a thorough strategic plan minimises distractions, aligns teams on priorities and guides organisations to focus on business priorities day-to-day.

With a strategic plan, organisations become proactive rather than reactive which, in turn, gives teams the capacity to explore and collaborate resulting in a more innovative organisation

Do you think your organisation could benefit from a strategic plan? We’d love to chat with you and see how we can help