The temperature’s are getting cooler and the days are showing the tell tale signs of getting shorter. The leaves are changing color (even here in Texas) and it’s that time of year again – PLANNING TIME. Yep, the time companies across the country start the strategic process of developing plans that won’t work. You may not know this, but corporate America is horrible at plan execution. Oh, their not bad at the thinking process of planning, but they are HORRIBLE at the leadership element of executing those brilliantly thought out plans. Don’t believe me? Forbes Magazine recently quoted studies that showed only 3%, YES, 3% of executives say they are successful at executing their strategic plans and 1/3 say their plans never make it into any operational impact. Despite this, we will once again, with the changing seasons, embark upon following processes that have traditionally failed. If you are interested in breaking this seasonal cycle of futility, here are a few suggestions:
- MORE IS NOT BETTER: It may be good to super size your Dr. Pepper at the movies, but creating large and complex strategic plans are almost guaranteed to fail. Follow this rule; more is not better and better is not BEST. Simplify both your planning process and its outcome to create impact. Three (yes 3!) accomplished goals are way better than 5 incomplete strategies. Look for your best plans and do those that will create impact.
- VACUUMS ARE ONLY FUN IN PHYSICS: Create a planning process of inclusion. When I am involved in an idea I am enrolled. When the idea is dumped on me, the best you will get in buy-in. If I am accountable for execution, I want a piece of the planning process.
- HOW AM I DOING?: Plans suffer slow deaths when communication dies. Design communication plans as part of your strategic planning process. Create open and regular channels of contact and interaction that keeps the goals top of mind. Most people leave strategic planning meetings and go straight to working their jobs, they don’t start implementing. Help them by keep them in a regular loop of talking. We use a HUDDLE strategy that involves 5 minute Skype meetings Monday through Thursday. The plan is worked EVERYDAY.
Heck, this is just a blog and I know it is crazy to think this short little opinion will crack the pattern of bad execution, but our work on our Elegant Simplicity planning process has helped lots of our clients. So, start small with something new, don’t return to the desolate land of poor execution!
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