Man Plans. God Laughs.
Ten Benefits of Strategic Planning
Spoiler Alert: The plan itself may not be one of them.
It’s getting to be that time again, time to assess the past year’s agenda, identify new goals and plan how you’ll reach them. Whether or not 2014 was wildly successful (hopefully, yes), I’m betting your goal for 2015 is to make things even better!
So, how’s your plan coming? Have you started? Are you deep in the muck? Are you stuck? Or maybe you’re ready to roll out The Mother of All Strategic Plans?
Regardless how far along you are, I’d like to remind you that, statistically speaking, your plan is likely to go astray. But that’s OK, because all that hard work — and most of the benefit — is not really about the plan.
Now don’t get me wrong, a plan is a good thing!
Not having a plan is like trying to hit a target in the woods, in the dark, with a slingshot, with your eyes closed.
It’s just that the plan is not nearly as essential as the planning. Getting your top talent together. Working out the details of your current state and where you want to be. The act of planning is simply one of the healthiest exercises you can undertake, one that will prep your organization for success regardless (or maybe in spite) of the inevitable changes in The Plan.
Here’s what planning gets you:
- Open lines of communication
- Clarity on the issues
- Bridges between organizational silos
- A better sense of your market
- Consensus on direction
- Accountability
- A sense of ownership
- A base of goals and metrics
- Decisions
- A sense of accomplishment
Any team that owns these bullets almost doesn’t need a plan.
Almost. There’s still the part about coordinated effort, SMART goals, assessing effectiveness, you know… The Plan.
As you craft your plan, bear in mind: the diligence it takes to create it will also help ensure its execution.
So keep working on it. Finish it. And stick with it — as long as results meet expectations.
If you’ve planned well, you’ll be prepared to ditch it and succeed anyway.
Originally published at www.dangerouskitchen.com on November 13, 2014.
