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Complimentary Behavioral Assessment
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Behavioral Assessments are the first step toward personal and organizational improvement.
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ASK THE EXPERT - Strategic Planning |
| December 30th, 2009 02:01:31 pm |
Now these are words that leave many people perplexed. I learned a long time ago in my business career that many people tend to think in terms of tactics versus strategy. Strategy – the process where you lay your moves out in advance, is unfortunately not the strength of many business people.
The system I learned for strategic analysis includes the key components of:
1. Analyzing my current position.
2. Thinking through possible alternatives.
3. Determining which alternative would be best and laying out an action plan.
4. Implementing that action plan.
Going a step further, thinking about the vision of our organization, analyzing the external and internal factors effecting what we are trying to accomplish, deciding on the mission over the next 1-3 years, and executing on that strategy.
We would like to hear your thoughts and questions regarding Strategic Planning. What has worked? What hasn’t?
Feel free to weigh in and we will share your thoughts and questions and respond throughout the month of January.
We are also going to give away one free strategic planning process to one of our blog responders. Let us know why you think Strategic Planning is important and why you think your organization should create it’s own strategic plan…and remember, Houston Partners has created hundreds of strategic plans for organizations over the past 17 years.
Here’s to your success in 2010!
Jim McGiffert
HPI Strategic Partner |
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Comments on this blog
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Wednesday, January 6th 2010 by Ed Oakley
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What a perfect time of year for the topic of strategic planning, Jim. Even if we've completed our organizational strategic planning for the year, why not look at Personal Strategic Planning?
Thank you for the discussion!
Ed Oakley
www.enleadership.com/blog
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Friday, January 8th 2010 by Angela
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Simple but true. In today's environment of constant motion and do more for less - Sometimes it's important to remember that we need to breathe, contemplate, and take the time to think, analyze, and plan. We must question, is the action plan or path I am taking today getting the right results or going in the right direction. 100 mph in the wrong direction will not win the race. Great thoughts, Jim. Thanks for the reminder.
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Sunday, January 10th 2010 by Aleta Hettich
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Since I'm completely new to developing stragetic planning, I did learn one thing, you must have a goal. When I got involved with ASBA, my mentor asked me to develop some goals for our 4 months together. What a time we had! I actually got all my goals done, and am continuing on! This week I'm attending a SCORE event on social media networking! If I can just stay focused on what to do first and then jump in and get at it, I plan on being successful! Thanks for your thoughts and I look forward for more!
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Wednesday, January 13th 2010 by Jerry
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I'd like to think that Strategic Planning is a process and I would challenge all of us to focus on STRATEGIC THINKING! How do we think about what we are doing in each situation where a significant decision is being made? Do we think about the short and long term impact of the decision? Do we think about how the decision affects parts of our business processes or organization? Do we think about how the decision impacts the other people around us? Taking a little extra time to think strategically all throughout the year will net a better overall result. Good topic, Jim.
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Thursday, January 14th 2010 by Jerry Houston
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I am including in our BlogPost for this week the following message from our friends at Resource Associates Corporation. Print it off and fill it out and you will have then completed a Strategic thinking Exercise. Give us your feedback and we’ll send you a nice article on strategic planning!
REFLECT BACK. PLAN FORWARD!
The start of a new year is always a great time to reflect back and plan forward. Here are some great questions to springboard that thinking. (Remember; you're more likely to achieve something if you plan for it and write it down, so ... get your pens ready! Here goes:
As you reflect on this past year, what were your two or three most significant accomplishments, breakthroughs, and/or achievements?
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2.
3.
Looking back over the year, what (if anything) blocked or held you back as you moved toward your goals/objectives?
Knowing what you know now, what would you have done differently? (While we can't change what was, we can use this input/learning as we move forward.)
As you look forward to next year, what are your three most significant goals that you wish to accomplish within the year? What will be different? How will YOU be different?
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2.
3.
What are the top two or three things about your business that you most want to be different next year?
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2.
3.
What two or three changes do you most want to see in your personal life?
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2.
3.
What do you want your practice/business to look like one year from now?
What actions are you prepared to take to reach your goals and objectives next year?
Having gotten clear on what you want to achieve next year, the next step is to develop the strategies and actions that will move you to reaching your desired outcomes. And if you don't yet have a coach or an accountability partner to keep you on track ... GET ONE! (Contact your Support Analyst ... we happen to know a few good coaches!)
Let's prepare to make 2010 our most exciting, rewarding, and personally fulfilling year!
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Saturday, January 16th 2010 by Aleta Hettich
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Most significant:
1. Joining ASBA & working with a mentor for 4 months!
2. Setting goals of: Getting my company name registered with Arizona, getting a website/email address. - Cleaning my sewing room--a constant in progress creation!
3. Getting my designs drawn up and patented.
What blocked me-spending too much on fear of the unknown, the economy.
What to do differently: focus, focus focus! If I can't change what's going on around me, then focus on what I can improve upon.
Goals for 2010:
1. Working with a branding coach to get my designs looking good enough to publish them and getting trademarks done.
2. Start production of my product, finding resources, and getting a brochure printed.
3. Establish a presence on Twitter, Facebook, Linked In, sharpen up my website & my own blog.
Different:
Company:
We will receive contracts with business and customers. We will network to reach our goals of becoming a local and national presence in our marketplace niche.
Personal:
1. I will be different as a result of training that is available from SCORE, ASBA, and other revenues.
2. I will become more focused on what is the main thing. Now that I have goals, I will work consistently on them and accomplish great things for my company.
3. I will remain focused, if it isn't good for my company, why am I focusing my energies on it?
4. Schedule a business plan session with SCORE and attend boot camp put on by ASBA - 1-22-10.
By the end of the year, I want to be working full time in my business, with my branding in place, social media propelling me into a new company reaching out to my clients with compassion and quality products.
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Monday, January 18th 2010 by Jerry
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Aleta:
We are so proud of what you have accomplished. It demonstrates what can be accomplished when you are persistent and determined...and when you have a good Mentor!
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