Lead The Way is a strategic planning book that examines the benefits of planning, provides a simple, proven process for developing a concise, easy-to-understand written plan and supplies the strategic planning tools and approaches to ensure accountability in the workplace and improve business performance.
Excerpt
It's true that a poor planning process is a giant distraction and a huge waste of time.
Properly conceived and carried out, planning can help any organization become more effective. The paradox of planning is that the very act of preparing a plan will help you and your team pinpoint significant opportunities for increased effectiveness and profitability even though the chances are good you won't implement your plan as it was developed. This is what makes planning indispensable.
Why don't more companies develop a plan that they will implement?
It's estimated that four out of five businesses don't operate from a written plan. Most of these are small companies. Yet of those businesses that invest the time to develop a written plan, studies show that only one company in four actually integrates its plan into day-to-day operations.
Do executives believe that preparing a budget is the same thing as preparing a plan? Or are they not sure how to create a plan? Are they intimidated by the process? Or do they believe the idea of planning is a giant time-waster because no single individual really owns what's in the plan? Are they concerned that changing marketplace conditions will render the plan obsolete within weeks of its development?
Yes.
What's more, my experience working with leadership teams supports the findings that the vast majority of businesses today operates without a written plan. If these reasons -- excuses, really, -- are what's stopping you, it's time to take a fresh look at the power of effective planning.
Don’t Wait, Lead Now is a must-read for emerging leaders and anyone in leadership that wants to up their game— full of practical, real-world examples that highlight the traits and behaviors that create high-performing teams.
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Practical application
