stealth plan
In the novel by HG Wells, invisible ManA scientist named Griffin works to become invisible by changing the body so that it neither absorbs nor reflects light. Interestingly, the same phenomenon occurs when leaders have no plan. Leaders neither absorb insights about the business nor reflect on the business in any meaningful way. Instead, they are like a bumper car, constantly jumping from one opportunity or fire drill to the next.
A staggering 81% of managers say their companies have no process for developing strategy, and 50% say their teams lack the ability to develop strategy. Develop a good strategic plan. This is shocking because research shows that planning is the number one source of successful businesses. When you see companies struggling to differentiate themselves, unable to improve margins, or lacking a unified direction, it’s usually because they’re winging it and not planning.
Some people who don’t plan think planning is too much trouble and takes too much time. From what I understand, so does filing for bankruptcy. It turns out that the number one reason for business failure and bankruptcy is poor or non-existent strategy. However, plans don’t have to be overly complicated, and the process of developing a plan can actually be energizing and a great catalyst for team building.
The core of the plan is to answer two questions:
1. What do you want to achieve?
2. How will you implement it?
To find out if you have a plan to drive success, answer “yes” or “no” to the following questions (or take the interactive version):
1. The program is updated with new insights throughout the year to stay relevant. whether
2. The plan clearly identifies limited priorities so we are laser-focused and don’t spread our resources too thinly. whether
3. Planning drives my daily activities. whether
4. A plan is a concise summary of the factors that determine the success or failure of a business. whether
5. The plan includes insights into all four key areas: market, customers, competitors and company. whether
6. The plan includes input from other relevant functional areas. whether
7. The plan provides a clear roadmap to achieve our goals. whether
8. The plan shows time frames, metrics, and responsibilities. whether
9. The team reviews the plan at least once a month and makes corresponding modifications. whether
10. The plan includes clearly stated goals, objectives, strategies, and tactics. whether
11. This plan is condensed to 1-2 pages for ease of use. whether
12. The plan demonstrates how we will achieve a competitive advantage in the marketplace. whether
13. The program has helped us grow our business profitably. whether
14. The plan clearly links our goals to our strategy. whether
15. The plan includes our purpose (mission, vision, values). whether
16. The plan is developed after strategic thinking and planning sessions, so it includes new strategies and tactics, not just repeated ones from the previous year. whether
17. The plan includes a comprehensive assessment of your competitors’ strategies, not just their products and services. whether
18. The plan communicates the strategy in a simple way that is easy for others to understand. whether
19. This program has been an important part of our past business success. whether
20. The plan clearly presents a winning and differentiated value proposition. whether
What are your plan rates? Typically, a score below 15 indicates a chance making plans It can bring greater profits, set a unified strategic direction, and lay the foundation for competitive advantage.
Professional football coaches have a comprehensive and detailed game plan every week. I have friends who coach the Pee Wee football team and they watch hours of video every Saturday and develop comprehensive game plans for their team’s nine-year-old opponents. Professional pilots never fly an airplane without a flight plan. Professional tennis player and 20-time tennis Grand Slam champion Roger Federer talked about the importance of planning, “I have to be thoughtful in my planning and really decide beforehand, what are my goals, what are my priorities? I think This will determine how successful I am.
Professionals have plans. Not so with amateurs. They improvise and hope for the best. Is your organization filled with professionals, or is Pee Wee Football Coach better prepared? If your strategic direction isn’t documented, you don’t have a plan. Research shows that if you don’t have a plan, sooner or later you will be defeated. The number one reason businesses fail is poor or non-existent strategy. think. plan. Behavior. repeat.
