How to Plan Like a Leader, Part I
A preview to the webinar on Wednesday, February 27
Never look back unless you are planning to go that way.
But, there is one exception to Thoreau’s wisdom…
As I listened to the head marketing of a major regional heath care company reflect on the results of a three-year campaign, their biggest problem was revealed in the answer to one question. You see, the aim of their multi-million-dollar effort was to significantly expand their geographic coverage and gain a greater share in a highly competitive market. But it didn’t work. They had to withdraw back to their base market area. Every dollar and every effort was to no avail.
When asked what’s next, the executive said, “We’ll see. I like to play it by ear and go with the flow.”
They didn’t plan. I was privately thinking of Alan Lakein’s classic quote, “Failing to plan is planning to fail.” But it was clear that even if they did decide to develop a plan for the future, they would need to put Thoreau’s wisdom on hold for this important reason:
Look back just enough to understand where you are and how you got there.
Whether you are navigating change for an organization or your professional life, the first step to planning like a leader is to clearly recognize everything that contributed to your current situation.
Here are three more priorities for planning like a leader:
Decide who is going to be actively involved in the planning process. Planning has to be a team effort.
Prepare yourself and each participant to take emotion out of the project, except in two ways:
- A deep passion for the goals or objectives you’ll set; and,
- Awareness of the emotions people will have when they learn of the completed plan.
Make a list of all of the questions that need to be asked … and answered … through the planning process.
The number of questions will be at least 20. If you can’t come up with 20, call me.
I’ll explain why each of these are essential during the webinar on February 27, How To Plan Like A Leader. Details are below.
But it’s just the start of how to plan for success. My next email … after the webinar … will include more.
Meanwhile, I encourage you create a plan. In writing. And PLAN TO BE YOUR BEST …As You Navigate Change.
What You’ll Learn
✓ The nine components of a strategic plan and how they work together
✓ Where to begin and how to focus your time and energy
✓ Three tips on how to brainstorm the right way
✓ How to lead yourself and others through a planning process
✓ Plus, this includes a review of all 8 leadership strategies in the PLAN TO BE YOUR BEST methodology, and the role they play in helping leaders and their teams triumph over change