- Bob Paden
Strategic Planning And Why It's Time To Step Outside Your Comfort Zone

https://hbr.org/webinar/2017/12/the-big-lie-of-strategic-planning
A recent webinar on the article written by Roger L. Martin made a provocative statement that all businesses should consider when they are thinking of "strategic planning":
"Appearing to NOT choose IS a choice!"
It's a rather long webinar (honestly a bit boring), and while I would recommend watching the whole hour long video, I'll save you the time and give you a key point summary:
Typical strategic planning focuses on a businesses real comfort zones and rarely gets them outside of that zone - budgets, goal, etc. Emphasis is on planning, not strategy!
Getting outside a business's comfort zone is imperative - the idea is to make strategic choices, not tweak plans within what the business actually knows today.
There is a difference between strategic planning/planning and strategy.
Normal strategic planning includes a very cost driven mindset - what can we do with what we have - all things within a business's control.
Better strategic planning breaks that mold and works on the Sales end of the P&L. Customer driven investment thinking vs. capability based initiatives.
If you can't get it to one page, it's not strategy!
It is not about perfection. It's more about key choices (and some will not work out).
What would have to be true for this choice/move to be successful - then work on those barriers to make it happen.
And lastly, appearing to NOT choose (e.g. working on 10 initiatives vs. 1 or 2) is a choice! And doing this is dangerous because NOT choosing is just as dangerous as choosing!
If you need help creating a real strategic plan, give TIER321 a call. We are happy to help you in your journey to work through real strategic choices and decisions.
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