Strategic Planning

Or as some like to call it, "Vision Quest"

What are you thinking about this week? Most professionals are looking at their upcoming deadlines and tasks because, of course, they are coming up.

But I hope you won’t just keep your head down and focus on the immediate issues. Consider where you would like your company to be at the end of the year, and in the next 3-5 years.

Some things to consider:

Where is the market going? Will our current strengths and structures be a good fit? Are there changes we should be considering, in order to better meet the upcoming issues or opportunities?

Do we want to grow the firm? Should we be considering geographic expansion? Service expansion? Going after more “big fish” clients? Scaling up some of our revenue streams?

What is happening with the technology we use? Are there software changes we should be considering? Do our people need more training or experience in order to be proficient and competent with the new tech? Are there market changes that provide opportunities for firms that are ready when the sector hits a tipping point?

What is happening with our workforce? Most companies are currently trying to hire more people right now. Consider who might be edging toward retirement in this decade. Is there a succession plan? Is there anyone who can step up and be ready to fill their shoes? What steps are we taking to make that happen?

What is our corporate culture like? What will it be like once we have the pandemic in the rearview mirror? As we are establishing a “new normal” in the office, we may have an opportunity to tweak a few things for the better. Consider retention factors like work-life balance, high morale, and our people seeing paths to the success that THEY want available to them in the company.

How’s your communication? If you came up with a great strategic initiative, would you have an effective way to tell everyone? Would you have an effective way to hear from them about their ideas for implementation? Does your communication still work when we have remote, hybrid, and in-person team members?

We have many tasks on our plates that can hold our attention, if we let them. In the immortal words of Ferris Bueller: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

Consider taking a look around today.