by: Joyce Friel, Peak Performance Consulting
“I just wanted to ask you, which way I ought to go?” “Well, that depends on where you want to get to,” said the Cat. “It really doesn’t matter…” said Alice. “Then it really doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the Cat.
From Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
A movie and a fairy tale both point out the importance of having a plan. Just like Alice in Wonderland I can’t tell you if a plane or train or an automobile is best for you until you tell me where you want to go. If you want to get there from here, you gotta’ have a plan.
Where do YOU want to go? Where Do You Want To Take Your Business?
I know as a business owner or manager you could describe to me what you want to achieve. I also know that if you have a business loan, you likely have prepared a financial plan for your banker. Great! You’ve had to think through your financial goals, your needs and how you plan to repay that loan.
This is a good start, but what about all the other aspects of your business. Finances are one very critical piece of business success, but they are only one piece and your financial goals will never be achieved if you don’t also think about and plan for all the aspects of your business that support achieving financial success. What about your marketing plan? Sales Plan? Employee Development and Satisfaction? Stakeholder Satisfaction?
It is just amazing how many businesses do not have a comprehensive strategic plan and then they wonder someplace down the road why they aren’t able to achieve their goals. (That’s when they call me in a panic!) Much like Alice they often seek advise of which way to go, but haven’t determined where ‘there’ is or how they want to get there.
So what are the benefits of having a strategic plan? Simply put, a strategic plan…
- guides the decisions you make along the way
- becomes the yardstick for measuring progress
- is a communications vehicle for gaining support and commitment from your banker, employees and all other stakeholders
- allows you to keep in mind your goal while focusing the selection of informed choices along the way
But wouldn’t having a strategic plan mean I’ll be limited and have to follow it strictly? No, it means you have a good guide and like any guide you can deviate from it as needed as you move along your journey toward your goal. Just like driving across the city, you think you’ll take one route to your destination, but when you come upon a detour you deviate, but still keep the destination in mind.
http://www.peakperformancecorp.com
http://www.joycefriel.blogspot.com
