Creating a strategic plan can be an engaging and energizing exercise for a cohesive and aligned executive team. If you have taken the time to create a team like this, then the challenges usually begin once the plan is completed and the rest of the organization is expected to adopt and execute the plan.
In most organizations, as you go down in the ranks the disconnect to the plan increases tremendously with the plan becoming a coffee coaster at best if it is lucky enough to make it out of the drawer.
4 things can contribute greatly to solving this challenge:
- Taking a highly inclusive approach to the actual planning process where key stakeholders and staff at all levels are given the opportunity to contribute and participate in some fashion. If you take this approach it is vital that this is done in an authentic manner where this input is taken into serious consideration. If not, it is better not to do this at all.
- Plan carefully for roll out and implementation. This is as important as the actual plan.
- Create a plan that is clear, short, inspiring and dynamic. Lengthy plans that are hard to read and complicated rarely inspire people to action.
- Ensure that your approach is in alignment with your organizational culture.
Strategic planning can shift from one of the activities that people dread most to an energizing experience that can result in dramatically improving your organizations performance.
