"Businesses with clear, written strategic plans are far more successful than businesses that are operating from the seat of their pants…once completed, the strategic plan becomes a blueprint for the future of the company. It gives the company a clear track to run on, and benchmarks against which to measure success. A strategic plan allows the company, and everyone in it, to focus on high value activities."
- Brian Tracy. (From Create Your Own Future)
A blueprint for the future. A clear track to run on. Focus on high value activities. Just three reasons why you should have a strategic plan according to best-selling business author, Brian Tracy.
Most importantly, as stated by Tracy, "Businesses with clear, written strategic plans are far more successful."
Developing a powerful strategic plan is one of the most important tasks you perform as a business leader. And no, I am not referring to a 100 plus page strategic plan that few people will read, let alone understand.
The type of plan I'm talking about is a pure strategic plan that highlights your:
- Monopoly position (Business and flagship products)
- Core brand values and positioning
- Strategic objectives
- Strategy
- Strategic framework and processes needed to implement strategy and achieve objectives
To help you create your blueprint for the future I've developed SmartSWOT – One Page Strategic and Marketing Plans. Part of the SmartSWOT Strategic Planning system, my one page plans are innovative planning documents that highlight your strategy and key actions on a single A3 or A2 page.
Why SmartSWOT plans? For starters, they meet the seven criteria of an effective strategic plan, as outlined below:
Seven criteria of an effective strategic plan
1. It must be a strategic plan, not a business plan
A strategic plan is not a business plan. A business plan is a financially-focused document used to secure funding.
A strategic plan, on the other hand, is a streamlined document that highlights your company's competitive position, identifies your strategic choice, and outlines the strategic and tactical sequences you will employ to achieve your objectives.
2. It must have high-value content
The value of a strategic plan lies not in the paper it is printed on, but on the content. In other words, the specific ideas, concepts and tasks outlined in the plan itself.
Yes, content is king when it comes to strategic plans and therefore content must have a high value attached to it. How to get high-value content? That's where criteria #3 comes in.
3. It must be formulated by those who understand strategy
The quality of a strategic plan's content is primarily dependent on the skills, expertise and backgrounds of those who create it. Therefore creating a great strategic plan starts well before the planning process actually begins.
A great strategic plan begins with the establishment of a strong planning team – a collection of people with the expertise, experience, creativity and analytical nous to create high value content.
While on this subject, one key disadvantage of tools such as strategic planning software programs and strategic planning seminars is that there is too much focus on the strategic planning process and not enough on content. The result is that these tools can often be too "cut and paste" and create cookie cutter plans that lack originality and look and feel like your competitors' plans.
4. It must follow a sequential process
Once a strategic planning team is in place, you then follow an effective strategic planning process that is sequential and balances creativity with analysis. The process must not be too rigid and definitely must not inhibit creativity.
5. A strategic plan must not be complex
An effective strategic plan must be easy-to-read and understand – by everyone from CEO to janitor. In this regard, the plan must be jargon-free, contain no long-winded content such as verbose vision or mission statements, and must be concise and to the point.
6. It must not be pie-in-the-sky
Developing long term (3-5 year) strategic plans requires people with good fortune telling skills and an ability to accurately predict the future. To put it bluntly, they are too pie-in-the-sky.
Effective strategic plans are focused on near-term strategic needs and scenarios (1-3 years), which are more realistic and predictable.
7. Results-focused and actionable
A strategic plan should be a document that people in the business can take away and start actioning straight away. An effective strategic plan will not gather dust – it will be used and referred to often by those responsible for its development and execution.
Most importantly, an effective strategic plan focuses on specific results and outcomes.
My one page strategic plans meet this criteria…and much more. Probably the most important aspect of these plans are that they are visually oriented.
The inspiration behind my one page strategic plans and process
My one page plans are inspired by military battle maps and sports plays used by sports teams. Here is an example from World War II.
And this example is of a "play" from the sport of rugby.
In both these examples, a visual process has been used to lay out the plan for beating the opponent. Further, because the plan is visually focused, it is easier to read and understand.
SmartSWOT One Page Plans are based upon the same principles. The plans are visually oriented – with all key elements of the plan laid out on a single page.
For more information on SmartSWOT One Page Plans, please call on 0064 9 534 9314 or email ben (at) benmbartlett.com
