1. The document discusses the importance of strategic planning for organizations to set clear goals and priorities, have all team members working towards the same objectives, and make efficient decisions. 2. It defines strategic planning as a process that translates an organization's vision into goals and objectives with specific steps to achieve them. 3. The document provides tips for creating a strategic plan, including reviewing current performance, identifying priorities and mission, outlining strategies and tactics, assigning accountability, and regularly reviewing progress.

1. LET'S TALK

2. We've all heard it before....
"if you fail to plan,
you plan to fail."

3. Strategic planning is defined as “A
systematic process of envisioning a
desired future, and translating this
vision into broadly defined goals or
objectives and a sequence of steps
to achieve them.”

4. Without clear goals, strategy and
tactics in
place, team members may be moving in
different directions trying to achieve
what they believe to be in the best
interests of the organization. That’s just

5. Take the time to create a
Strategic Plan.

6. Your Strategic Plan will be the tool that
provides direction in meeting your
mission and goals with maximum
productivity.

7. Having a Strategic Plan will also help
allocate resources appropriately--that
could be time, people or money.

8. Having a Strategic Plan will also help
allocate resources appropriately--
that could be time, people or money.

9. At YSC, we review our
Strategic Plan quarterly to see:
* Where we are
* If we're on track
* Where we should make adjustments

10. We also revamp yearly by taking a look
at what we accomplished in the current
year and planning for the next!

11. You might ask, why do I need a strategy?
Is it worth taking the time to
establish goals and create the tactics
to obtain them?

12. Having a Strategic Plan allows
your organization to:

13. 1. Create your direction and priorities.
A strategic plan is a clear view of your
organization's view of goals and the tactics
needed to make your goals a reality. When
there is no clearly defined strategy you may
find that you have no priorities or plan to
obtain your highest success.

14. 2. Get everyone on the same page, moving in
the same direction.
Your strategic plan allows each team
member to have a clear understanding
of their responsibility and role to achieve
organizational goals and make the
best use of everyone’s talents.

15. 3. Make concise decisions focusing on the
goals at hand.
Having a Strategic Plan keeps your focus
on the priorities outlined, making it easier
to not be pulled to focus on new ideas or
initiatives. You’ll find it easier to say no to
things that will take your focus, time and
resources off the goals at hand.

16. 4. Create Goals, strategies and tactics.
Goals should be SMART: Specific, Measurable,
Attainable, Realistic and Time-Bound.
SMART goals are comprehensive and answer the
question “where do we want to go?” while
strategies and tactics outlines exactly
what you’ll do to get there.

17. Creating your strategic plan can
prove to be overwhelming but if
you break it down one step at a
time, you’ll find it easier and
more manageable.

18. Here’s our process:
1. Review where you are as well as
current goals. Be honest with yourself
and what you can reasonably accomplish.
You want a clear picture of where you are
currently, not where you want to be.

19. 2. Identify what’s important.
Focus on where you want to take
your organization over time. This sets the
direction over the long term and clearly
defines the mission and vision

20. 3. Identify your strategies, tactics and
implementation plan.
These consist of strategies and tactics that
will be used to achieve the goals.
They answer the question
“How will we actually accomplish our work?”

21. 4. Determine who is accountable
This is how you’re going to get to where
you want to go. Define exactly who is
going to do what strategy and tactic
and what the responsibility looks like to
manage accountability.

22. 5. Review. Review. Review.
Strategic planning never ends. To ensure
your plan is moving forward and
performing as designed you must
conduct regularly scheduled reviews.

23. Your Strategic Plan will be your map for
growth. It’ll give you the ability to identify
your strengths as well as weaknesses. To
address those, take a note from last month’s
blog and embrace your strengths and
hire/contract against your weaknesses

24. We’ve found that consistent
strategic planning has been the
driving force in taking our
business to places we never
imagined we would go.

25. If you haven’t already done so,
take the time to lay out a
strategy for 2018.
It’‘ll keep your business
focused on what’s ahead!

26. Need assistance creating your
2018 Strategic Plan? Schedule
your free consultation with YSC!

27. www.YourSignatureConnection.com
info@YourSignatureConnection.com
586-834-8748