This time of year is the perfect time for doing strategic planning if you haven’t done it yet. Many businesses and entrepreneurs make sure they do strategic planning for their company at least every two years, and review it least once a year to make major adjustments. Strategic planning identifies where the company or entrepreneur wants to be at some point in the future and how it is going to get there.
Strategic planning involves looking at what the company is all about—the vision, mission, and values, and what the company’s objectives and goals are. Objectives and goals are clearly tied to the vision, mission and values, assuring that goals and objectives are congruent with what the company is all about. Once goals are set, the most important part becomes setting up a plan for achieving those goals. The key is that that plan is strategic—it is a carefully laid out strategy for reaching the goals. That strategy pays ongoing attention to changes in the company or external environment that impact the success of the plan. In other words, plans for achieving goals are continually adjusted.
While strategic planning is an essential tool for businesses, it isn’t just for businesses anymore. Individuals can use this same process to create a strategic plan for their life. Like strategic planning for businesses, this process involves examining the vision you have for your life, your mission, your values and what you need to change to make your life really fit the direction you want to go.
Just as in business you would examine the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) the same process applies to your individual life. What are your strengths and weaknesses? What opportunities are available to you? What threatens the life you want? How do you sabotage yourself most often? What obstacles typically show up for you?
The key is in using this process to develop your goals and the strategy for achieving those goals. It isn’t a matter of just saying, “I want to lose weight this year” or “I want to double my income.” You need to understand how those goals relate to YOU—how are the goals congruent with your life purpose, your mission and your values?
Why? When your goals are really congruent with you, they are much easier to achieve. They represent who you really are, and you are much more able to overcome internal or external obstacles because you will have the passion for it. Those goals will become so compelling and personal that you’ll do whatever needs to be done to reach them.
If you’ve struggled in the past with unachieved goals, consider using this process to outline your direction for the 2012. If you want help with your strategic planning, contact me (Linda@InnerResourceCenter.com) to discuss your situation and what developing a strategic plan for your LIFE entails.
© 2012 Linda S. Pucci, Ph.D.
Why?
You nailed it! When it comes to strategic planning, that is the most important – and first – thing that must find clarity. Knowing the Story we most desire to tell also serves up the energy we are going to need to stick with it and get what we want!
Linda,
I’m just reading the book 10X Rule, which is all about committing to a long term strategy no matter what, in all areas of life. Congruency rules, as you point out!
Sue
I love it, Linda! I agree with every word you’ve written. You must think strategically in order to achieve your goals, whether they’re business related or personal goals.
Linda, your timing is perfect. My husband and I created a plan for our family back in November and now we’ve been asked to lead our church community group over the next two weeks in the same thing. As my husband says, “failing to plan becomes a plan in and of itself.”
Oooh … I never thought about using these same strategies for planning my life. hmmmm I’m going to have to take a closer look and see how this is going to work!
Jennifer Bourn, Bourn Creative
Great post. Sue and I are looking at running our home life like a business and this fits in.
What a great blog