Here's a really simple way to make sure your plans always produce the results you expect.
"There is one quality which one must possess to win, and that is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants, and a burning desire to possess it." - Napoleon Hill
Every plan must provide its leader with the capability to fulfill this multi-level purpose:
=> To inspire the commitment of others,
=> To execute on the plan's promises
=> To supervise the plan to successful conclusions.
The reasons why many plans fail can be grouped into one of these categories: its strategic approach, its relevance to people, its use as a control tool.
You need to follow the 3 "P"s for planning and learn how to develop plans that deliver breakthrough results.
Prepare Your Plan!
Sounds obvious, doesn't it? If you hope to follow a plan, then you have to prepare for it, don't you?
Wise planners have clearly defined ways to prepare their plans.
=> What major goals do you want your plan to accomplish?
=> How many resources, assets and partners will your plan require?
=> When will your plan begin and when will it end?
=> Where will you find the most reliable information?
=> Who will benefit from your plan, who will do the work of the plan, who will be responsible for leading the plan?
=> Why will we need each section of the plan and why will that section be important to our success?
Personalize Your Plan!
Every plan involves people. They are either participants in or beneficiaries of your plans. Regardless of their roles, your plans must be sensitive to their talents, values and priorities.
When you include the following principles, you can make your plans "people-friendly":
=> Defining their problems, wants and expectations
=> Building communities of like-minded folks
=> Expanding your impact through partnerships
=> Linking their needs to your delivery of value
=> Addressing their hunger for new growth opportunities and prosperity
Use these ideas to find ways to serve the demands of those people affected by your plans - that means involving your partners, suppliers, employees or team mates and your constituents or clients.
Pilot Your Plan!
If your plan is supposed to guide you, why don't you use it to pilot your efforts to successful outcomes?
Commercial pilots use their 'flight plans' as a checklist, map and control manual to make sure they land us safely at the right airport. You wouldn't want to end up at some place 1000 miles away from your home or office, would you?
As a Checklist
=> What steps do you need to take?
=> What outcomes or results are your actions supposed to produce?
=> Who does what and at what stage are they supposed to do those tasks?
=> How much work needs to be done?
=> How are you supposed to do your tasks?
As a Map
=> Indicates or suggests direction
=> Defines distance between starts and finishes
=> Provides pathways, specific processes or flows
=> Shows intersections, linkages and connections
=> Gauges progress towards milestones and targets
As a Control Manual
=> Describes conditions, factors and forces
=> Supports problem-solving and decision-making
=> Empowers training and coaching interventions
=> Facilitates situational, contextual or structural analysis
------------------------------------------------------------
Leadership stands on a foundation of effective planning. Great leaders use plans to strengthen the resolve of their people and focus those people on crystal-clear goals.
W. Clement Stone was a self-made, mega-millionaire entrepreneur who lived and believed this truth - "You, too, can determine what you want. You can decide on your major objectives, targets, aims and destination."
Are you ready to shape your plan and plan your shaping? Are your most ardent desires searching for the concrete certainty of a plan? Are you hungry for the next growth opportunity?
If so, use these 3 "P"s as your guide, your map and your playbook - when you do, you'll breakthrough your roadblocks!
Copyright ? 2005, Mustard Seed Investments Inc., All rights reserved.
------------------------------------------------------------
About the Author:
Bill Thomas teaches leadership techniques using strategic, innovative, evolutionary-focused concepts - his 2-Volume, how-to Manual, "Strategic Organizational Leadership: Create & Deliver Fail-Proof, Breakthrough Plans", uses an energizing process of group development to produce value empowered results! "See it, Plan it, Lead it, Improve it!"
http://www.leadership-toolkit.com/planning.html
------------- -----------------------------------------------
whole house cleaning Deerfield ..Canada's lean leaders need to look beyond the horizon and... Read More
Microsoft Great Plains does wonderful ERP job for horizontal markets... Read More
Private equity firms have raised so much capital over the... Read More
If you own a mobile car wash business or auto... Read More
As a business owner, you've likely created a hurricane plan... Read More
This will make some people angry as hell, but it's... Read More
Note to Northwest Airlines ? It's not about fuel costsFor... Read More
The Accountability/Alignment Process: Three Steps to an Accountable Organization Generating... Read More
This week I coached a wonderfully lovely woman I'll call... Read More
The new check cashing instant clearing will take some time... Read More
American Eagle Outfitters and Wet Seal Stores have issued statements... Read More
1. Attempt Succession Planning Without Other Strategic Plans. Succession plans... Read More
As fast as you can say business disaster, your business... Read More
Some analysts credit [Larry] Ellison with anticipating the consolidation in... Read More
Where would your business be without a proper plan? A... Read More
Last week we talked about a few of the ways... Read More
We all agree Strategic Planning is a critical part of... Read More
Building a dynamic small business is a constantly evolving, increasingly... Read More
Business seems to drop, slow or even stop during the... Read More
I love the excitement of starting up a new home... Read More
Please take a moment before you read any further and... Read More
Part 1A few weeks ago I attended a seminar sponsored... Read More
Franchised companies often require what some believe to be excessive... Read More
We all know that nothing runs without a plan, and... Read More
Richard L. Daft one of the country's recognized academic leadership... Read More
home cleaning services Des Plaines ..Canada's lean leaders need to look beyond the horizon and... Read More
Franchised companies often require what some believe to be excessive... Read More
Six Sigma is becoming a proven approach for businesses and... Read More
Many business start-up kits or consultants will tell you one... Read More
Many companies are reluctant to dive into outsourcing ocean because... Read More
Every new business owner knows that a business plan is... Read More
Storytelling and writing a business plan actually go hand in... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains serves mid-size and large clients... Read More
Note to Rite Aid and CVS: It's not about the... Read More
Strategic planning and consulting is the strategy roadmap to manage... Read More
You might be thinking to yourself, "Why should I waste... Read More
Running a business, whether it be an offline multi-billion dollar... Read More
Microsoft Great Plains does wonderful ERP job for horizontal markets... Read More
Succession planning, like any business acumen, is both an art... Read More
"I don't need a business plan."Neither did Alice in Wonderland."Would... Read More
Strategic alliances are increasing at a rapid rate. It is... Read More
David E. Gumpert, author of Burn Your Business Plan, often... Read More
One of the difficulties we face in our industrialized age... Read More
In today's rapidly changing and highly competitive markets, many privately... Read More
When in doubt, cut that out! Yeah, yea, doubting Thomas... Read More
"Bozo" ? A clown with a forlorn look, always finding... Read More
Microsoft Great Plains fits multiple services market niche and healthcare... Read More
This week I coached a wonderfully lovely woman I'll call... Read More
Microsoft Great Plains fits horizontal markets clientele and in case... Read More
By cranking up others development to meet your business needs,... Read More
Strategic Planning |