As someone who has helped companies develop and maintain strategic business plans for over two decades, there is nothing more depressing than learning the plan is left sitting on the top shelf, collecting dust – or is filed in a place nobody can remember. How sad it is to think of the time and effort spent by busy executives and volunteers on strategies that are abandoned over time.
Here are some of the reasons your business plan may not be the living-breathing-dynamic document you expected to have after all of the hours you put into its development:
- Your plan is too complex: If it takes more than about twenty minutes to read the fundamentals of your strategic business plan, it may be too large or complex. Sure, you might have a nice 200-page, color bound, document with a dozen appendices – of which you paid a steep consultant’s fee to obtain. But, what good is it to your decision-makers if it is as easy and as much fun to read as an encyclopedia?
- The plan was developed by your consultant, and not you. If your plan has the de facto signature of the consulting firm who assisted with the development of the vision, mission, and strategies – you may find you are not as loyal to its content as time passes. When you discuss the elements of your plan with strategic partners, funders, new employees, or volunteers, you must refer to the plan as your plan. Not, the plan ABC Consulting developed for us. If a consultant does their work in the best interest of your company, the plan will have your fingerprints all over it. If you find yourself making comments like “Well, we added that strategy because the consultant recommended it to us”, you will not be loyal to the plan in the long run.
- You don’t keep the plan “at hand” during board meetings and key decision-making events. Your strategic business plan is the litmus test to keep you on track, and focused on your future. Without you plan at hand, it is easy to stray into discussions and commitments that might be in conflict with your core mission. It’s fine to brainstorm about new and radical ideas – but be sure your resources don’t stray from your business plan. If your business environment dictates a change in direction, then it’s time to revisit your strategies. But, do so in a manner in which everyone is involved, and the changes to the plan are formally approved and documented.
So, keep your plan simple. Make sure it is your plan. And, keep the plan at hand.