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These 10 tips will give business leaders strategic planning tools to set the direction for their firm's success.
Through promotion or a new job assignment, most business leaders at some point in their career will hear these words: "Congratulations, you are now responsible for strategic planning." While the need for strategic planning knowledge may be driven by career advancement or necessity, business leaders are looking for the strategic planning tools to help set the direction for their company's success. They are trying to understand the "new market normal" and position the firm for opportunities that come with a stronger market.
Unfortunately, very few technical educational paths prepare business leaders to intuitively implement a sound business development program. Go online, and you will find thousands of links on how to build a strategic plan, or why strategic planning is good for your organization. However, resources to help business leaders select and staff a strong strategic planning team are very limited. And in our industry, the staffing can be particularly challenging, as the best and brightest are often the most billable. Taking these individuals off the street even for a day or two can negatively affect profits. So how do you assemble the right people in the most efficient way to drive a successful strategic planning process?
Here is a quick primer:
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Select a cross-functional team with a mix of high-level and tactical thinkers. Include a few high-performing or younger staff members to push the envelope and to absorb the development opportunity that comes from the process
2.
Consider the following options for the actual session:
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A 1- to 2-day immersion session away from office distractions. The team then works on the tactical implementation after the session. You will need to closely track post-planning implementation to maintain momentum. Periodic status or progress...