When we talk about creating a strategic plan, some of you cringe inside. You might remember the process from your corporate days where you spent a week locked in a conference room producing a big binder or slide deck that no one ever looked at again. Strategic Planning, for a small business, has to give impact and have immediate value. Otherwise, why do it? So what’s the value of a strategic plan?
- A strategic plan is like a road map; it shows you where you are going and how you will get there. You can measure your progress along the way to determine if you are off course or need to pick up the pace.
- The whole team builds it together. So now that everyone has a map, and as each person on the team encounters a question or roadblock, they know what decision to make to keep the business moving forward.
- We need all the energy and creativity of our team members. Strategic planning is one way to engage them at a deeper level and get them more invested in where we are going as a business.
At Anchor Advisors, we have developed a compact and focused strategic planning process that utilizes visual tools to create immediate impact for your business. When we are finished, the whole team will be plugged into where the resources and strengths in the organization are, and what your priorities are going forward. Your takeaway is a one- or two-page plan that captures key items and assigns specific actions to individuals with agreed-upon deadlines. Your whole team will come away engaged and ready to tackle the work ahead.
For more information:
See our Not-for-Profit Strategic Planning Case Study: PLAN PROVIDES ‘SAFE HAVEN’ FOR ORGANIZATION
Read an Article about the benefits of strategic planning: Small Business Strategic Planning