Win the Game with Strategic Planning

We help small businesses succeed.We help small businesses succeed.

We help small businesses succeed.

The importance of strategic planning

• Turning your vision into reality requires a healthy, realistic & well-crafted path to success– Be realistic about where your business is going – Be flexible about your expectations – Set concrete goals & a plan to achieve them

• Strategic planning is crucial for success. So, let’s get started…

@Infusionsoft @ClateMask #sbstrategy


Identify the purpose of your business.



Identify your purpose

• A vision helps influence strategies/decisions

• Ask yourself: “What is the purpose of my business?”

• A shared vision is needed to build cohesion/foster growth

• Understand the “why” of your business before building your strategy



Understand how strategy guides planning.



Strategy guides planning

• Strategy is often misunderstood, rarely done• Take time to define where you are going so you

can: – Develop a plan – Stay on course – Make adjustments as needed – Reach your destination

• Foundation of great strategy is leverage– Use organizations strengths to gain return – Develop a sustainable competitive advantage

focusing on 3 – 5 core strengths @Infusionsoft @ClateMask #sbstrategy


Strategy guides planning



Free 30-minute personalized strategic planning consultation: • Strategic planning e-book • Small business strategic planning

worksheet • SWOT+ worksheet • My Big 3 worksheet

An expert will walk you through the entire method.



A strategy planning methodology.



Strategy planning methodology• Mission:

– Achievable within the next 3-5 years

– BHAG (pronounced BEE-hag) or Big Hairy Audacious Goal (from Built to Last by Jim Collins)

• Strengths to Leverage: – 3-5 key strengths you have

to achieve your BHAG• Strengths to Develop:

– 3-5 key strengths you need to develop to achieve your BHAG



Strategy planning methodology

• Annual priorities: – 3-5 priorities you will focus on this year to leverage

current strengths/develop new strengths to move closer to your BHAG

• Annual priorities must: – Support the current mission – Be set annually by the leaders – Not become individualized

• Quarterly Priorities or Tactical Operating Priorities (TOPs): – 3-5 priorities that support the annual priorities



Strategy planning methodology

• SMART objectives: – Projects and/or large tasks required to achieve

quarterly priorities… SMART stands for:• Specific: Specific enough to fully understand• Measurable: Can tell when it’s complete• Achievable: Can be completed • Relevant: To the game plan • Time-Bound: Has a deadline (a specific date)



Establish a meeting rhythm for success.



Meeting rhythm for success

• Use productive meetings to: – Assess and learn from

successes/failures of current strategy

– Make course corrections – Identify priorities for

coming quarter or year • Identify the right mix of

consistent meetings for your business.



Try this rhythm…



Meeting for Success

The SWOT+ process (a great way to share ideas and move forward as a team): • Accomplishments (at least 30 minutes): – Talk about all of the good stuff and create a

positive vibe, reflecting on the great work and results of the previous quarter.

• Lessons Learned (30 minutes): – Include both the good and bad, “ah-ha” moments

of the quarter, and maintain constructive learning rather than allowing it to turn into a gripe session.



Meeting for success

SWOT+ process cont. • SWOT analysis - Strengths, Weaknesses,

Opportunities, Threats (1 hour): – S & W are internal to the business; O & T are

external. Spend 15 minutes on each. Move through these sections in order, but allow for a few additions to previous topics as people get more ideas.



Meeting for success

SWOT+ process cont. • Strategic Issues (30-60 minutes): – Identify the top 3-5 issues you are going to tackle

this year/quarter. Based on the prior 3 steps, use this step to capture strategic issues in this format: “How do we achieve X outcome, given Y situation or obstacle?” Caution: The focus is to articulate the core issues; don’t attempt deep problem solving



Measure results for continuous improvement.



Where performance is measured, performance improves.


Where performance is reported, performance improves dramatically. Where performance is reported publically, performance improves exponentially.”


Measure results

• Big 3 – 3 primary responsibilities of each role – Help employees know how they are

doing/connect the dots between their role & company’s mission

– Can change quarterly/yearly based on mission/SMART objectives

– Employees should periodically report progress



Measure results - Scoreboards



In small business, a strategic game plan can help you do more than just survive. You can thrive— and win.


Win the Game with Strategic Planning

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