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90% of Strategic Plans Fail - Here's How to Win
Justin Mecham
October 28, 2024
Hey Full Potential Zoners!
Do you have a strategy, or just wishful thinking?
Without a blueprint, your strategy is just guesswork:
90% of strategic plans fail because they lack a clear structure and follow-through. (Source: Harvard Business Review)
As Dwight D. Eisenhower once said:
“Plans are nothing, but planning is everything.”.
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Most organizations struggle to turn their long-term goals into reality.
Without a clear, actionable plan, teams often become lost.
Unsure of their purpose and unfocused on what really matters.
Today we are going to help leaders master this by using my:
‘Strategic Planning Blueprint'.
Let’s dive in!
Critical Lessons for Leaders & Teams
5 Lessons for Leaders
Know Your “Why” and Communicate It Clearly
Always remind your team why the company exists (your mission). If people understand the deeper purpose behind the work, they’ll be more invested.
Example: In a meeting, explain how a recent decision aligns with your company’s mission, like focusing on customer satisfaction to reflect your mission of being the best in customer care.
Assess the Current Landscape Honestly
Evaluate strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) without sugar-coating. Be transparent about where you stand.
Example: If your market share is slipping, be upfront about the reasons (like new competitors) and outline a plan for action.
Set Clear, Measurable Goals
Make your key objectives specific and trackable. Everyone needs to know exactly what success looks like.
Example: Instead of choosing, "Increase customer retention," choose, "Increase customer retention by 15% within the next year."
Assign Responsibilities Clearly
Make sure each person knows what they are responsible for and what deadlines they need to meet. Avoid ambiguity.
Example: In a project, assign tasks like, "John, you’re responsible for developing the new marketing plan by next Monday."
Adapt Based on Results
Constantly monitor progress, and if something isn’t working, be ready to adjust. Flexibility is key to success.
Example: If a product launch isn’t performing well, immediately look at feedback and adjust your approach to better meet customer needs.
5 Lessons for Teams
Understand the Mission and Your Role
Know the company’s mission and how your work directly contributes to it. Ask questions if you’re unclear.
Example: During a project, think about how your task helps the company reach its big-picture goals, like making the customer journey easier.
Be Honest About Challenges
Speak up about weaknesses or potential problems. The team needs to know the truth to fix things.
Example: If you’re struggling to meet a deadline because of lack of resources, tell your manager early on so solutions can be found.
Work Toward Clear Targets
Know the key objectives and long-term goals. Break them down into smaller, manageable tasks.
Example: If the team’s goal is to improve efficiency by 10%, focus on one area of your daily workflow you can improve, like cutting down on meeting times.
Take Ownership of Your Responsibilities
Own your part of the project fully. Don’t wait to be told what to do next. Be proactive.
Example: If you’re responsible for preparing a report, don’t wait until the last minute. Check in with teammates and make sure your piece fits into the larger plan.
Commit to Constant Improvement
Always ask, “What can I do better?” Small, consistent improvements lead to big results.
Example: After finishing a project, reflect on what worked and what didn’t. Suggest a change to the process for next time to improve efficiency.
Set Clear, Measurable Goals
A team I was hired to help was consistently missing their deadlines and struggling to complete projects on time.
They had a general idea of what needed to be done but lacked focus and specific direction.
Team members were unclear about their individual roles, leading to delays and confusion.
The issue boiled down to a lack of clear, measurable goals, which made tracking progress and accountability difficult.
I stepped in and immediately introduced the concept of setting clear, measurable goals.
Step 1:
First, I sat down with the team to help them define exactly what success would look like.
Step 2:
We broke down the larger project into smaller, specific goals. Each task had a clear deadline, and we outlined measurable outcomes for every phase.
Step 3:
Instead of vague targets like “improve customer satisfaction,” we created a goal like “increase customer satisfaction ratings by 10% over the next quarter, as measured by survey results.”
Step 4:
We assigned responsibilities to specific team members. Each person knew what part they were responsible for and when it was due. No more “group tasks” that fell through the cracks.
Step 5:
We set up regular check-ins to review progress. This allowed us to spot issues early, adjust timelines if needed, and celebrate small wins along the way.
With clear, measurable goals in place, the team saw immediate improvements. Tasks were completed on time, and team members reported feeling more organized and confident in their roles.
By knowing exactly what was expected of them and having clear deadlines, they were able to deliver higher-quality work with fewer delays.
Here's how you can make it real over the next 4 days:
Day 1: Define What You Want to Work On
Choose the lesson you want to focus on.
Write down one specific area in your work where this lesson can make a difference.
Example: If you’re working on taking ownership, focus on one project where you could step up and lead. If you’re working on communication, identify one meeting or conversation that needs clearer direction.
Be as specific as possible. Pinpoint where this lesson will have the most impact.
ChatGPT Prompt to Help: "Help me identify a specific situation at work where I can apply [insert chosen lesson, like 'taking ownership' or 'setting goals']. I want to be clear on where this lesson can make the biggest impact, and how I can start improving it today.”
Day 2: Make a Small Change
Apply your lesson to this situation. Make one small change today that reflects the lesson you chose.
Example: If you're focusing on improving communication, start by asking better questions in meetings or offering clearer updates. If you’re working on setting goals, create a clear objective for the project you’re working on.
Don’t overcomplicate it. Make sure the change is simple and actionable.
ChatGPT Prompt to Help: "Give me an example of a simple, actionable step I can take today to apply [insert chosen lesson]. I need it to be something I can easily implement in my daily work routine."
Day 3: Involve Someone Else
Share your lesson or progress with a coworker, manager, or team member. Explain what you're working on and ask for their input.
Example: If you’re focusing on taking ownership, tell your manager about the specific project you’re now leading and ask for feedback. If you're focusing on continuous improvement, ask a colleague what small changes they think would help improve your work.
Collaboration helps build accountability and strengthens your approach.
ChatGPT Prompt to Help: "How can I explain the change I'm working on to a colleague or manager? Give me a brief way to explain what I'm doing and ask for their feedback."
Day 4: Reflect and Adjust
Take time at the end of the day to reflect on how the lesson helped you. Write down what worked, what didn’t, and what you can improve next time.
Example: Did taking ownership help your project move faster? Did communicating more clearly lead to fewer misunderstandings?
Use this reflection to adjust how you’ll apply this lesson moving forward. Consider expanding it to other areas of your work.
ChatGPT Prompt to Help: "Help me reflect on the past few days. What worked well, what didn’t, and how can I improve? Give me a few questions to ask myself so I can learn from this challenge."
In the end, strategic planning is about having a blueprint - an actual plan for success.
It shows you where you stand, where you want to go, and how to get there.
Each lesson we’ve covered gives you the tools to navigate that journey with clarity.
It’s about breaking things down into manageable steps, knowing your purpose, and staying accountable.
With a clear plan, even the most overwhelming challenges become achievable.
Until next week and with lots of love,
Justin
This Week’s Growth Recommendations
Book To Read:
"Blue Ocean Strategy" by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne (see it here)
TED Talk to Watch
"Your Strategy Needs a Strategy" by Martin Reeves (see it here)
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