As appeared on LinkedIn on July 10, 2023.
“What’s wrong with our strategic plan?”
The managing partner said that while the firm had created a strategic plan with a well-known consulting firm, it wasn’t doing the job that the partners expected – and the firm wasn’t achieving its goals. He wanted to know why that was the case.
While there isn’t a one size fits all answer, there are several things a firm can do that will help them achieve their strategic planning goals.
💡 Decide who to involve in the strategic planning process.
Involving the right partners, staff and consultants in strategic planning from the beginning of the process can make an enormous difference in the plan’s success.
💡 At the very start, involve key decision-makers whom the plan will impact.
If there is a lack of information flowing back to the firm, people’s imaginations may stay strong. The conversations may start, “If they haven’t told me anything, maybe it’s because they’re getting rid of my practice group.”
💡 Include naysayers, particularly those who can create problems in the future.
A firm will always have a small group of partners with unique ideas for managing the organization. Unfortunately, some of these may become the critical naysayers in any planning process. It may be as minimal as belittling the plan at a partnership meeting, or they may spread rumors about the plan before it is in place. Those people can quickly derail a strategic plan if they are not appropriately involved.
💡 Ensure your professional marketing leadership is involved from the onset.
CMO, CBDO, Chief Marketing Director. Whatever title they may have, your senior-most business development and strategy professionals within the firm should be involved from the start.
These people are entrenched in the day-to-day marketing of the firm, and they will also have a good handle on the marketplace. What better source to tap and find out the firm’s impediments to new processes?
If you would like additional information about ensuring the success of your strategic plan or practice plans, or to discuss the planning process in general, please reach out to me.
In the meantime, I’ve also attached a link to my Strategic Planning Success Checklist. I hope that it is helpful. Strategic Planning Success Checklist
