I spoke with a business owner the other day who is nervous – as many of us are – about the effects of the current political and economic turbulence on her business. This is someone I admire greatly, a true entrepreneur who has succeeded despite the odds. Yet she told me that she feels handcuffed – just waiting to see what happens – feeling scared and stuck.
When asked what she plans to do, she stated she wasn’t sure – she didn’t have an immediate plan. This made me think of the role she holds in the business, and prompted a question.
As leaders, do we drive our business or simply react to what happens?
In leading our businesses, it is our job to create the roadmap for others to follow and remind everyone of it, daily. Rarely is the road smooth or without detours, but without a roadmap, we are truly lost.
Yogi Berra said: “If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up somewhere else”. This is what happens when we let our business happen to us. We are at the mercy of everything and everyone that we encounter along the way. In essence, our business plan is simply “hope” (not predict).
Having a roadmap doesn’t mean we don’t pivot – adjusting is part of a sound plan. But having a roadmap is about making conscious decisions when called on to adjust, and communicating those decisions across the whole team.
Here’s how planning provides clarity:
- 5-10 Year Vision: Offers a horizon view, minimizing worry about current hurdles.
- 3-Year Picture: Builds a picture of success, factoring in mid-term challenges.
- 1-Year Plan: Sets shorter-term goals that support the long-term vision.
- Quarterly Pulse: Allows for quick responses to short-term obstacles while staying on track towards the long-term vision.
- Weekly Meetings: Enables leadership teams to solve real issues, in real time.
There is always a chance that, even though we have a plan and execute it flawlessly, we still won’t achieve the vision we initially set. But, the odds are that we’ll be much closer to where we wanted to be than by having no plan at all.
Ready to take control of your business and your life? Give me a call.