Step #1 Strategic Planning (SP)

As I'm preparing my material for giving an upcoming Planning Seminar for Printing Industries of Wisconsin (PIW),I realized I never wrote a blog or articles for the first two meetings of SP. Since I want to have handouts for all, I'll create them here.

Accordingly, here's what should take place, and why, It assumes you've made the decision to begin the Process, and that you've chosen a facilitator or hired a consultant.

The President/CEO (P) meets with the Facilitator/Consultant (F) to get the ball rolling. After settling the basics of engagement, (P) briefs (F) on the current situation of the company, including financials, strengths & weaknesses. Obviously the purpose/results desired will be discussed, as well as how SP will meet this need.

If the President is not familiar with, or hasn't done, formal planning previously, the depth of the interchange is increased. Time, resources such as people, machines, & money are brought into the mix such that (F) gets the picture being painted.

If there are unique individuals or Family-Owned issues, this is the time for them. In short, F should be given a crash course in looking at the company from an executive standpoint. Agreement should be reached on time line.

Next comes F's turn in discussing Team selection, and what type of person is needed. That person is not a stereotyped clone, but rather just the opposite. It's very critical for the team to be a diverse group of people in terms of background, personality style, and discipline. Please see the separate article on SPT Selection.

Provisions should be made at this time for discovering the company's Mission, Values, and Vision (MVV). The ideal time is between this first gathering & the second. F & P will meet with 4-6 people, probably not the Team members, to accomplish this. They will be longer standing employees from various departments that understand who the company is, where it's been, and where it's going. As with the SPT, F will be in charge, not P, for the same reasons.


Finally, something that permeates through all this communication is "Fierce Conversations" Please see separate article. It is extremely important that P embraces the approach that F uses.

There's a tremendous need for unanimity here, which makes this start crucial to success.