But, according to Verne Harnish, it’s better to think of strategic planning as two distinct activities: strategic thinking and execution planning.
In order to be effective, reach the goals you set out to achieve and grow, you need to have the right individuals assigned on the team to discuss strategy – the Strategy Council – as well as the right process in place.
Jim Collins, author of “Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap … And Others Don’t”, refers to the strategic team as “the Council”. However, organisations refer to these groups with their own vernacular such as “Executive Council” or “Long-Range Planning Committee”, etc.
The first step is to form the team and ensure you have the “right people on the bus.”
Here are key characteristics of the Council from Collins’s book:
When the Council is first formed, it’s important to meet as frequently as weekly. The reality is that strategy isn’t something that can be determined in a set time frame or at an off-site meeting for a few days. It’s an iterative process.
Here are some ways to get the strategy juices flowing to help start your discussions…
Two very effective tools for the Council to use when discussing strategy are:
In most firms, marketing strategy equals strategy, so discussing the 4Ps of marketing – product, price, promotion and place – is very beneficial in the strategic thinking process.
Another framework to consider is the 4 Es from Ogilvy:
What the Council is striving for is to hone in on your Hedgehog Concept as described in “Good to Great” – the intersection of what your organisation is deeply passionate about, what drives your economic engine and what you can bet best in the world at.
Collins cautions that getting to your Hedgehog Concept doesn’t happen overnight and will require multiple cycles of understanding before you discover what yours is.
Collins said, “When you get your Hedgehog Concept right, it has the quiet ping of truth, like a single, clear, perfectly struck note hanging in the air in the hushed silence of a full auditorium at the end of a quiet movement of a Mozart piano concerto.”
If you’re really serious about 10X your business value, then there’s no better way to get started than scheduling a free strategy session.
In 30 short minutes, we’ll give you the exact blueprint we’ve used with dozens of businesses to double their revenue fast.
And we’ll even share a few secrets you can use to 10X your business value.
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I hope you have enjoyed these insights. Have a great week and stay growth-focused!
Best Wishes,
Jonathan
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