Strategic Plan established, communicated
and embedded as a plan of action

Strategic Planning and Business Development Consultant


Reality check

Most organisations have a strategic plan of sorts, but they are seldom formalised, communicated or embedded into the daily operations of the business. The result is that success is often a hit and miss affair. There is no means to build on the success with any certainty and reasons for failure cannot easily be understood and acted upon before the damage has been done.

The need for a strategic plan is never in doubt and motivation to establish one usually occurs around the new financial year, when the business takes stock of its achievements and sets the new budget. However, it rapidly evaporates as the daily pressures of running a business consumes all energy.

So, whereas a strategic plan could have provided a means for the Leadership team to drive the business through its year-end targets and into a competitive and financial sound position that can assure continued growth, the business once-again has to lurch from uncertainty to uncertainty on an annual basis.

A concern for the business beyond year-end therefore rests heavily on the shoulders of a few, and often just the owner or MD.

The process of establishing a strategic plan, embedding it into the consciousness of the business and applying the management tools that can drive its success are not onerous, but demand clear thinking, an element of vision and a top-down committment to making it happen.

It therefore comes as no surprise that most CEO's and business leaders choose to call upon the services of an external consultant to help them get this done. Unlike internal resource, a consultant can bring experience, insights and the clarity of an outsider to the strategic planning and implementation process, without the distraction of day to day operational issues.

The necessary actions that a consultant can drive through can be summarised as follows.
- Establish your short, medium and long term goals
- Create and communicate your Strategic Plan
- Embed the strategic plan into all operational actions

Establish your short, medium and long term goals

Businesses that succeed over the long term are typical found to have more than one, or indeed two strings to their bow. Three should be considered the minimum.

It is essential that at least three different and complementary revenue streams are created. They each play a different part in securing customer and revenues, but together they provide business resilience.

If you are planning to take the company to an IPO, an acquisition, or perhaps need to secure the next round of funding, a strategy that is based on a three pronged revenue platform is essential. It demonstrates a sound business, a reduced risk and hence a safer investment for all stakeholders. A good position for any business to be in.

You will have now created a sound business and one that is able to attract quality staff, customers and investors.

Create and communicate your Strategic Plan

The essence of the plan should be clear on a single sheet of A4. Detail can then be cascaded down from this. (Ask yourself how anyone in Sales or Marketing can position an important business propostion without this understanding!) The information should be easy to present in either financial terms or in business terms if you are to assure understanding and buy-in from potential partners, customers and staff.

The plan should feed into a similar one page overview that is generated by each of the 3+ sources of revenue.

Proof points should be established that enable the plan to be understood and accepted, and the necessary policies and process can then be established that enable informed actions to be taken at all levels from the MD down. This also allows new hires to understand and align their actions with the plan from day one.

You will have now created a business with a sense of direction and urgency.

Embed the strategic plan into all operational actions.

With the focus remaining on the key revenue areas and the customer needs that generate this income, targets and goals can be set. These in turn should be seen to drive the day to day actions of Leadership and Management.

With clarity of the strategic plan now in place, it is possible for these actions to incorporate small steps that lead to progressive accomplishment of the strategy. It is also possible to measure, review and reward progress that is taken towards the attainment of goals beyond the short-term. If well conceived and actively managed, the results of continuous progress will attract more customers and their loyalty and in the process will create a strong competitive position in the market.

You will now have created a means to secure customer loyalty and establish a more robust position in the market

Summary

By grasping the challenge to establish you short, medium and long term goals, to formalise and communicate your Strategic Plan and by embedding it within all operational actions of your business, you will be creating the value of...

1. A sound business and one able to attract quality staff, customers and investors

2. A business with a sense of direction and urgency.

3. A means to secure customer loyalty and establish a more robust position in your chosen markets.

The importance of gaining buy-in

  • Compelling Business Presentations; A vital requirement if you are to secure the necessary buy-in and support for your plan.

    An experienced presenter and will work with you to determine and communicate your key messages in a way that compels your audience to action. No matter whether the presentation is a make-or-break internal presentation, customer proposition or business case, he can help you achieve your goal.

    Engaging the strategic plan

  • Strategic planning and implementation; How to establish, communicate and embed a strategic plan as a plan of action.

    Grasp the challenge to establish short, medium and long term goals and make it happen. Clear steps to follow that lead to a sound business with a sense of urgency and one that attracts customer loyalty and builds a robust position in your chosen markets.

    Contact Information

    Contact us at Latroba Consulting