When should you plan?

When should you launch a strategic planning process?  Here's when:

1. When you don't have a current plan.

The fundamental tenet of strategic planning is that a better future can be obtained by going through a formal strategic planning process and implementing the plan.  Why are you leaving your boat adrift?

2. When your plan has been sitting on the shelf.

When you are not acting on your plan, odds are it is not good or belief in it is not shared.  It is time to plan again, this time using a process that results in shared commitment and an implementation plan that assures follow-through.

3. When significant events have changed/are changing the environment upon which your plan is predicated.

9-11, the financial meltdown, tsunami - all sorts of global or market events can change everything.  The plan should at the least be revisited or more likely a new plan is needed given the fundamentally changed landscape.

4. When the leadership has changed.

Planning success depends on shared understanding and buy-in.  If new folks are in key positions, that's an appropriate time to restart the planning process.

5. When new opportunities or obstacles arise.

A tempting new fork in the road or a previously unseen landslide ahead challenge existing strategies.  These options/obstacles may be ignored, but there may be a price to pay or positive results left on the table.  It's often a close call, but sometimes restarting the planning process is the best and least costly insurance to be sure you have it right.

6. When you don't believe in the current plan or think it is irrelevant.

A plan means nothing in the end - what's important is the strategic action that it drives.  If you don't believe your plan will result in the best outcomes, then you need to start again and find a future and actions to get there that you believe in and will follow-through on.

7. When you  need to demonstrate you have your act together and know where you are going.

A strategic plan should be developed for action, not for show.  But a significant side benefit of having and acting on a well-crafted plan is that it demonstrates to stakeholders that you have your act together.  Funders, investors, would-be employees, partners, etc.,  all can find comfort in your plan.

8. When you are tired of getting nowhere or of too-slow progress.

A proper strategic plan provides specific direction and focuses effort to get there.

9. When you can't waste resources.

A proper strategic plan takes stock of current and potential resources and marshals them toward what's most important for the organization.

10. When everyone seems to be on a different page.

An appropriate, well-facilitated planning process results in a shared vision and consensus on the most important strategies and immediate action steps to get down the road to that vision.

11. When it has become rote and boring.

The environment we all are operating in is hardly static.  Every day brings change - new opportunities and new challenges.  If your organization is staying the same, something is wrong.  You cannot stand pat over time in such a dynamic environment without sub-optimal results. Definitely time to plan to find how and what you need to change!