A Clear Strategy for the Future

Many companies spend a good deal of their time "fighting fires" in the workplace. - That is, their time is spent realizing and reacting to situations, rather than planning ahead.  It can be very difficult to stand back and see through all of the smoke: WHAT it is the company needs to accomplish and HOW they need to go about accomplishing it. The daily "fires" create a smoke screen, allowing businesses to feel as though they are accomplishing goals, when really they are just existing day-to-day.

One of the major differences between successful and unsuccessful businesses is their management staff and employee's ability to see the big picture and to plan for the future. Specifically, WHAT the company needs to do, and HOW they're going to do it. The success of the company hinges on their ability to look beyond "day-to-day", and create a strategic plan that can be updated annually/quarterly/or even monthly. 

Basically, strategic planning determines where an organization is going over the next few months, year, or more, and how it's going to arrive at the goal. It provides a road map to a "destination", as well as all of the "stops" or tasks the company needs to accomplish to arrive there successful and profitable.  It can even determine who the major players are for reaching the goals the company has established. Most strategies are very simple when you look at it broken down in just a few small steps:

1. Setting the goals. (For example: increasing product sales, or increasing a product line, or creating a new sales distribution method, etc.)

2. Creating the tasks or strategies that will help the company reach the goal. (For example: specific marketing initiatives, or forming strategic alliances with other companies, etc.)

3. Assigning the tasks and strategies to key players. (Who will do what, and by what date?)

4. Carrying out the implementation of the tasks and assignments.

5. Achieving your goals!

If your organization has not conducted strategic planning before, or your previous planning "fell short" , your company may require the help of a professional. Even if the company has been successful in the past, you may consider the help of a consultant if there are concerns among your organization members about strategic planning. Many times companies benefit from an objective "outsider" who is not likely to have strong predispositions about your organization's issues and ideas, and can perhaps give a fresh perspective and allow you to see the big picture smoke free and crystal clear.

Written by Rich Dusky, COSE MindSpring Editor