Strategic Planning is a term that gets thrown around the conference table a lot. Most executives take it as a fluffy phrase that takes a large investment of time, but lacks return in action. Words are creatively drawn onto a big, clean whiteboard, and the leadership team often leaves the meeting room with a motivational high. But after a few weeks, you meet in the same room again, with little movement to report on, and ideas that seemed so tangible last month seem to be farther from reach.

1. The 2016 Game Changer
Strategic Thinking vs. Execution Planning
Part 1 - Strategic Thinking

2. The Division of 2 Words
You’re probably familiar with the phrase “Strategic Planning”...
Well, it’s time to get rid of the idea of what
Strategic Planning used to be.
You will now adopt the following two concepts:
Strategic Thinking Execution PlanningVS.

3. Strategic Thinking: What It Is
We’ll get into more detail on our Wednesday Blog, but think of it as:
A group of your organization’s best creative thinkers, devil’s advocates, and key
innovators that combine their talents to generate ideas and action plans -
leading your company towards the next steps in the direction that is respective
with it’s core values.
It’s meant to be messy and intuitive, with thoughts free-flowing

4. Strategic Thinking: What It Isn’t
Another lifeless conference room meeting
It should be somewhere outside the office where your team is able to relax and feel
inspired.
Limited to only your executive team
Make it multi-generational, mixed gendered, and as diverse within roles as possible.
A low-priority
What got you to this stage of success won’t necessarily bring you to the next, you must
constantly seek improvement.

5. Who’s Invited:
Once you’ve identified your best talent within your entire
company, then make a subset team of 4-5 executives to lead the
company strategy initiatives and delegate execution tasks.

6. Tools For Strategic Thinking Sessions:
We’re big fans of both the Seven Strata, as well as the One
Page Strategic Plan, one of Verne Harnish’s Gazelles
Forms. Check out our blog on Wednesday (January 6th)
for details on its potential impact and where to get a
copy.
We Also like Jim Collin’s Hedgehog Concept, which is found in
his book: “Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make The
Leap...And Others Don’t” (also pictured on the right)
Copyright © 2001 Jim Collins. Originally
published in the book "Good to Great: Why
Some Companies Make the Leap… And Others
Don't." Reprinted by permission of Curtis Brown,
Ltd.

7. Pass It On

8. There’s A Lot More Where That Came From...
We’ve got a lot more insight to Strategic Thinking and Execution
Planning on the way in this week’s blog, so make sure to get
connected with us and Expect To Win® !