Have you ever noticed that the word strategic is almost always followed by the word planning? It is as if they were created to go together – like peanut butter and jelly.
That, however, is NOT the case!
Strategy is about tough choices. It is about deciding WHAT the organization is going to do – not HOW. And it does not need to be painful, cost a ton of money or take days of your executive’s time.
Identify/Verify Mission, Vision & Values
Verify focus – Customer Intimacy, Operational Excellence or Premium Product
Review and Update Areas of Focus
Understand where we are currently (what is going well, what could we be doing better
Define the Areas of Focus – what does winning look like
Complete an Environmental Scan – what is going on in the industry, regulatory, communities we serve, member, employee, stakeholders, etc.
Dream of the future by asking: What does world class look like? What could be?
Compare the list of future & world class to what is happening currently – what are the differences?
Identify where we need to focus the next 1-3 years
Prioritize the focus for the next 12-18 months
Remember – Great leaders say no to good ideas
How we will accomplish the prioritized list
What resources are needed (e.g. budget, time, people)?
Formalize the outcomes of the priority – how will you measure success beyond just getting the work done?
Work the plan & review monthly (at a minimum)
Adjust the plan and priorities based on the needs of the business – if something new needs to start, determine what needs to pause or have resources adjusted to accomplish the determined outcomes
Follow the monthly meeting review process
