Do You Have Staying Power?

Smart leaders realize that today's success is not a given tomorrow. What got their organizations to where they are today may not get them to where they need to be tomorrow. Strategic planning is the key for both non-profits and businesses to have "Staying Power" --- the ability to be better today and better tomorrow.

"The only way we know about the future is that it is going to be different." That's from the writings of Peter Drucker, the world renowned leadership consultant.

Therefore, those that fail to plan strategically are destined to struggle through each new change in their environment whether it might be sudden political or economic changes, new technologies, or unanticipated customer demands. Those that plan proactively for the future are in a much stronger position to make sound decisions and be leaders in their field.

Here's an example of an organization who wanted to make sure they had staying power. A regional community blood center, faced with the arrival in their area of a well-known national competitor, requested our Create Your Future program for its executive team. The results were a three year plan on how to manage in a more competitive environment, consensus on their key priorities and more effective communication focused on work demands and not "turf" issues.

The president's comment after the retreat was, "Now that we understand what we're good at and where we're good at it, it makes it easier to say no the things that don't make sense for us. We became focused and began to direct all our time, energy and attention toward a clear purpose."

So what is strategic planning?

Strategic planning is a disciplined effort to produce effective long-term decisions and actions that will shape and guide an organization. Today long term is usually the next three to five years.

First, the business or agency must take a look at what it is today, what it does, and why it does it. Then it focuses on the trends or environmental changes that could affect its mission and operations in the future. Finally, it produces a plan with specific strategic initiatives that the organization will undertake to ensure its staying power.

What are the benefits?

A good, workable strategic plan enables an organization, whether large or small, private or public, just starting or been around the block to:

Agree on a direction.
It charts a clear path for everyone in the organization to follow in order to accomplish its mission or purpose.
Establish clear priorities.
It defines what is most important and needs to be achieved which then cascades down the organization leading to greater accountability.
Make wise financial decisions.
It ensures better allocation of resources in areas such as staffing, equipment, facilities, systems and processes.
Create commitment and excitement.
It builds allegiance to a common purpose among the staff, the board, the volunteers, the founders and other key stakeholders.

What are its limitations?

It's important to understand the limitations as well as the possibilities of strategic planning. A strategic plan is not a wish list, a report card or a marketing tool. It is certainly not a magic bullet or quick cure for everything that ails an organization.

It takes time, it takes a board that is committed to examine the workings of the business or agency; and it takes staff who are dedicated to making that business or agency the best it can be.

A Final Word

Is your organization going through change right now? Or is it anticipating major change in the near future? Then strategic planning may be not an option but a necessity.

Now more than ever, the intuitive luck and dedication that may have helped many a business or agency succeed is running out. In today's chaotic environment, organizations must rely on sound strategic planning for growth, revitalization, and staying power --- to be better today and even better tomorrow.

Here are resources to help you build powerful leaders and powerful organizations / have powerful leaders at all levels: Coaching 4 Results, Planning 4 Change, Speaking 4 Impact, W.O.W.W. Tools.

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Copyright 2006-2008, Marcia Zidle. Will you have a bright future? Are you ready to make your organization stand out in the crowd in competing for customers, clients, funders or community awareness? Contact us and let us show you how to make that happen.

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