Post Labor Day - Business Serious

For many business leaders getting back to work after the summer means turning that refreshed, back-to-business outlook into a genuine new beginning.

“New” starts after Labor Day. Like the other New Year’s Day, this is the time for resolutions and advance planning to assure aspirations become reality.

Unfortunately (for them) many more businesses don’t see the value in taking a look under their own hood and charting a course for success. For the people in these companies the days and weeks after Labor Day seem to follow the same pattern as the days and months of years past. If doing the same things hasn't produced the results you desire start with a more robust vision for your organization.

Typically, smaller companies, Main Street businesses and those that anticipate little change in terms of technology, competition or consolidation may see little reason for a formal planning process.

But, odds favor an innovator in these times. If things haven’t changed in your industry you’re lucky, but don't be complacent. Sooner or later someone is going to find a way to improve on the offering, the process or how it goes to market. Is that going to be you? These kinds of changes require a vision and a plan.

For those that view September as the time to develop business strategy and for those that have yet to see the advantage in the process here are a few thoughts, suggestions and likely benefits to consider.

1. Evaluate your offering, study your competition, improve the ways you communicate and engineer better processes and protocols.
2. Ask yourself if we were competing against us where would we attack us?
3. Get lots of input from all around as well as from outside of your business.
4. Be critical about your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.
5. Write it down. The plan in the leader’s head is no plan at all. Look online for strategic planning templates.
6. Share it. Then report progress regularly. Your people want to be on a winning team. Keeping them informed will keep them invested.
7. The value of planning is not the document. The plan is a map most of the value comes through the exercise.
8. If you are uncertain about creating the process, get outside help

Do you know a business with less than 50 employees, struggling with today’s competitive challenges? My firm might be able to help.