The Real Value of Strategic Planning

The current economic climate has caused many legal firms  to focus on the here and now rather than take  the time necessary to think strategically and to foster long term, sustainable relationships.

Long term challenges and opportunities have been  put aside to deal with short term fire fighting and day to day tactics have replaced a client based, reasoned  plan for success.

I recently read an article on Strategic Planning which stated ‘the goal of a strategic planning process should not be to make strategy but to build prepared minds that are capable of strategic planning.’

So how do you build ‘prepared minds’ and whose minds should you prepare?  Well, certainly yours for a start!

According to Kaplan and Beinhocker (2003), key decision makers need to have a solid understanding of the business, share a common fact base and agree on important assumptions; with these central elements aligned, you build the foundation for productive strategic planning.

Whilst I agree the above are important, I also think the real value comes from:

• Having an organisational awareness of how your idea will work
• Having the ability to enforce the strategy to achieve your goals
• Having confidence in your vision
• Having clarity of mind

At the end of the day you are working towards one thing, moving your company forward to a position of success that no competitor will be able to achieve.

Every company needs sustained success, which will primarily be driven through effective strategic planning.  How will you achieve true ‘clarity of mind’ to make that difference?

“Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now”

Alan Lakein

Sulis Enterprises, in association with The Law Society of Scotland, has organised a one day programme ‘Stand and Deliver – Your Business or Your Life’.  It is a thought provoking programme designed to help lawyers  create a one page strategic plan, break free from the shackles and work on your business rather than in it.

Sulis Enterprises also runs specific strategy based courses for  entrepreneurs, SME’s, corporates and the public sector.  If you are interested in any of these courses please email Wendy for further information wendy@sulis-enterprises.com.

You can also follow Norma on Twitter @normacorlette, and to see how she plans to make an impact through strategic planning search for her comments with the hashtags #sulis and #futurelaw.

« Entrepreneurs With Get Up And Go | Home | Are You ‘Boardroom Ready’? »