Strategic Plans? I'm too busy.

I’m too busy to do strategic plans with my schedule. I understand their importance. I’ll hire a consultant one of these days to help me through it again. Besides I’ve done a strategic plan 3 years ago. It’s around here somewhere.

—A typical business manager.
Strategic plans form the basic structure of all activities (and to do lists). Used as a guide they simplify prioritizing, making decisions, and guide all the day-in and day-out activities for the whole team.

Now let’s have fun with strategic plans.

Your home builder says…

I’m too busy to do plans. I understand their importance. I’ll hire a consultant one of these days to help me through it again. Besides I’ve done a plan 3 years ago. It’s around here somewhere.

Your favorite football team’s coach says…

I’m too busy to do plans. I understand their importance. I’ll hire someone one of these days to help me through it again. Besides I’ve done a plan 3 years ago. It’s around here somewhere.

A military commander says…

I’m too busy to do strategic plans. I understand their importance. I’ll hire a consultant one of these days to help me through it again. Besides I’ve done a strategic plan 3 years ago. It’s around here somewhere.

Would you hire a home builder who said that? What about a coach for your team? Or how about a military commander as CO of unit your loved one is in?

Why would a business manager think they don’t need strategic plans?

There are several reasons.
Get results without strategic plans.  The growth of the market or economy or even the market presence of a key person in organization established the default strategic plans. The rest of the organization is along for the ride. What happens when the ride is over?
The original strategic plans are still valid. There’s no real change in the market or economy. Very rare these days, but I suppose markets exist with little or no change. I’ve not experienced that in my career. High tech, manufacturing, construction, finance, you name it. Change abounds these days.
Not held accountable. The manager “gets away” without planning. No one is watching. Eventually, the results will catch up.  Some one will notice, or worse yet, the organization will fail miserably to perform and the market will vote it out.
Ignoring market changes. Almost all markets undergo changes at one point or another. Some markets seemingly change continually. To ignore market changes coming down the pike reflects foolishness at best and incompetence at worse.
We tried strategic plans before and it didn’t work. What a quirky response! I only add it in here because I’ve heard the response from a real life manager.  Obviously, the plan was not correct. Continual adjustments were needed or re-planning was required to get it right.
Don’t know how to tackle strategic plans. Okay. Somewhat reasonable excuse, temporarily. In today’s world with so much information, training, coaching, mentoring available, there really is no excuse.
Each of these excuses results in the business manager eventually caught flat footed.
Don’t be caught flat footed. Get strategic plans in place and a process for continuous planning.
 

Find out more..

I can help.
Contact me today. Get your strategic plans and a continual improvement process in place today.
Whether you are a business manager, professional, or executive you need a plan.
503-753-9971 or email me at phil@PhilBride.com.
 

Strategic Planning Execute and perform the way you want Build confidence in your stakeholders that you have a plan (loan officers, board, partners, vendors, key personnel, strategic customers) Clarify your direction so you have confidence in your direction and your team has confidence in you Build a plan for growth, profitability, returns, succession, delegation Stop screwing around with poor execution [chimpy_form forms=”5″]