By Carrie Perry On Strategic Planning
Companies using strategic plans grow 30% faster than those without them, according to the Journal of Management Studies. And yet, 48% fail to meet at least half of their strategic targets.
This void represents the missing element that lets leaders and employees connect and engage around what matters. What is this missing element? Clarity. An unclear strategy is one of the leading reasons business strategies fail, regardless of industry or company size.
Think about it: If your strategy isn’t clear, people don’t understand it. So, they can’t execute against it. They’ll miss your targets or hit the wrong ones entirely. A strategy that’s unclear creates an org that’s unclear. And that leads to confusion, uncertainty, and doubt.
Success depends on knowing how to make strategy clear
In my work as an executive coach and organizational development consultant, I’ve seen the barrier between internal organizational alignment and sustainable business momentum. Regardless of the industry or the size of the company or the smarts of its leaders, the divide is profound. It’s like an invisible wall, but it’s real — and it’s one of the biggest barriers to successful strategy implementation.
Like a human being, a company has to have an internal communication mechanism, a “nervous system,” to coordinate its actions
—Bill Gates, Co-Founder of Microsoft
There is no substitute for clearly defined vision, mission, goals, and values. These words may sound a little tired or even conjure up an eyeroll or two. But their purpose is to provide the foundation for strategic planning and thinking to flourish.
Single Slide Strategy® creates organizational clarity
While facilitating an annual leadership planning summit for Counterpart, I introduced a basic Vision, Mission, Goals, Objectives diagram. I’ve shared this same one for years during strategic planning workshops. Within the context of building a healthy organization, and referencing Patrick Lencioni’s model on organizational clarity, we started exploring the core elements of Counterpart’s identity.
Thanks to Sheperd Simmons’s deep thinking and gift for architectural writing, I had a front row seat to the evolution of the Single Slide Strategy (SSS). It’s a practical, at-a-glance tool — a one-page strategic plan template that any organization can use to align leaders and employees for greater momentum.
Five powerful benefits of the Single Slide Strategy:
- It works anywhere.
It’s not industry-specific, so any leadership team can quickly use it to improve engagement and alignment. - It creates a common language.
Leaders and employees can use it to talk about what matters most to your business. - It tells your business story.
The elements of the SSS flow logically to help everyone articulate clear business guidance and direction. - It prompts action.
With SSS elements clearly defined, execution becomes more disciplined and focused. So you can avoid many of the strategic planning challenges businesses face. - It’s a living document.
As the goals of your business evolve, the SSS shapes priorities and ongoing development.
A simple strategic plan for executive teams
The Single Slide Strategy is contained on just one strategic planning PowerPoint slide. It’s powerful for sparking healthy dialogue and productive planning. First it provides context, then clarifies your identity through core beliefs, mission, and vision. Finally, it captures the foundational standards that guide behavior, operations, and customer experience.
All of this leads to pinpointing the few actions that drive results, which then shape clear priorities, goals, and objectives. This strategic planning tool — when used effectively — helps your leaders and team members connect to your business’s success. It makes goal-setting more relevant for individuals while channeling organizational energy toward what matters most.
Does your business need a strategic planning framework?
Imagine the difference the SSS could make! By addressing the root cause of failed corporate strategy and creating clarity, you give your team the framework they need to succeed. I encourage you to get yourself a counterpart, learn from their experience, and put this incredible tool to work for you!
Related:
A cliché-free mission statement
What is a vision statement?
