Summary:

Many companies employ strategists while many do not. The trick is getting leadership to want strategy, otherwise they will eliminate it, or worse -’shelve’ the strategy’, thereby having the plan fail. So what is the trick to getting management to like and want strategy? Gerald Nanninga believes the key is to make it into a hobby for leadership. To do this, Nanninga advices supplying them with (1) boost to their egos, (2) let their imagination escape, and (3) be fun.

Strategic planning should not be thought of as a tedious chore, instead it should be thought of as an escape from the tedious – an escape where imaginations are set loose and where possibilities are explored.

Article Quote:

“Since strategic planning is often viewed as an optional activity, executives can opt not to do it. Instead, they can fill their time with the pressing issues of today. If you want to make strategic planning a priority, you need to make it appear like a hobby—something people always seem to find time for.”

Link: http://planninga-from-nanninga.blogspot.com/2009/12/strategic-planning-analogy-297.html

The idea of taking strategic planning and turning it into a creative and fun experience is fascinating. Rarely do we think of it as a fun task, and why not? Exploring possibilities by working through scenarios should be a process that involves more than just executives. It should be broadened to include a wider range of ideas and perspectives where fresh outlooks can be explored, and perhaps – a ‘gem’ found.

However you come to develop your strategic plan, it will inevitably perform poorly if it is not put into action and reviewed often to see if changes need to be made. Having the plan, the people assigned to complete objectives, and a solid strategic management system in place will enable management to have instant access to performance measurements.

For more on strategic planning, see http://www.performancesolutionstech.com/category/strategicplanning/