“You can’t stumble upon your destination.” – Jack White
Our Four-Phased Approach to Successful Strategic Planning & Execution
We see strategic planning as a journey with four key phases: understanding where you are today, defining where you want to go, designing a roadmap for execution, and regularly checking your progress to make sure you're on the right track. Our approach encourages your team to think creatively, discover new ways to seize opportunities and overcome challenges, and develop an actionable and achievable plan. And who knows—you might even find the planning process a little enjoyable!
There's nothing more rewarding than seeing your vision come to life, and we’re here to guide you at every turn to help make your dream a reality.
Phase 1: Define Your Starting Point
To plan effectively, you must first understand where your business is today—why it exists, who it serves, how it’s performing, your team's strengths and weaknesses, external opportunities and threats, and what makes your organization unique. For many, gathering stakeholder feedback provides valuable insights that can uncover new opportunities and highlight current challenges.
Phase 2: Design Your Destination
Next, we focus on designing your destination—where are you headed and what does success look like when you arrive? This is the opportunity to think long-term and dream big because anything is possible! Your vision should align with your team, mission and core values, and serve as your guiding north star for confident decision-making and effective resource allocation.
Phase 3: Build Your Roadmap
Now it’s time to connect your starting point and destination with a roadmap! This includes setting goals, identifying metrics for success, and outlining strategies—all aimed at driving progress over one-to-five-year increments and moving you toward your vision. But don't stop there! Make sure to include a detailed action plan with prioritized tasks, timelines, and assigned responsibilities to ensure successful execution.
Phase 4: Execute and Track Progress
This is where the rubber meets the road! Instead of simply checking off tasks, take time to pause at key intervals to assess progress, celebrate your wins, identify new opportunities and challenges, and adjust your course as needed. Things don't always go as planned, so make sure you're measuring success with your larger vision in mind.