Overview of the Strategic Planning Process

The four phases of the strategic planning process are assess, design, build, and manage. Assessing, designing, and building comprise the planning phases of the process while managing deals with the execution of our plan.

It’s common to be in the managing/execution phase and not get the results you want. In this case, you can dive back into various parts of the planning process to rework.

Great strategic plans begin with assessing our current state. We gather external perspectives (opportunities and threats) and internal perspectives (strengths and weaknesses) to build a SWOT analysis.

Next, we can design a strategy using our mission statement. Why do we exist as an organization, and what’s our purpose? With a clear mission, we can now cast our vision (future state). The strategic planning process is all about moving our organization from where we are today to where we want to be in the future.

To progress into moving to the desired future state, we need to answer, how will we succeed? Begin by identifying competitive advantages and long-term organization-wide strategies. From here, we can build our framework in which we categorize into the following perspectives:

● Financial
● Customer
● Operational/Internal
● People

Let’s build our plan. Using your corporate goals, where do you want to be in Q1, Q2, etc.? Cascade those corporate goals into department goals and, from there, individual goals. Congratulations, you now have a plan!

Managing your plan is just as important as building it. To execute, you need people (individual action plans), a system to track performance, and a process (monthly or quarterly reviews of performance).

[faissalloussaief]

You have saved 4 years of management classes in just a couple of minutes.
Straight to the point: Flawless 🤩
In reality, Theory remains necessary but actions speak louder than words.
Well done. I love it.

[evelynmere]

The best teachers are those who take seemingly complex topics and make them simple to understand. Fantastic job Erica, so well done.

[brushmasterspaintingfranchise]

out of the past 20 videos I reviewed, this on is by far the best. Without wasting my time you perfectly explained the process. Thank you. I will subscribe.

[davidmcdonald-hunt]

STTP (Straight To The Point), thank you for that. Most videos pretend they are essays because they approach the presentation in essay format, which wastes time and distracts from the point. You don't do that, you go right to the point and spend the video explaining. This is what researchers are looking for. JWD (Job Well Done)

[patriciawilson]

Where have you BEEN ALL MY LIFE!!! Your videos are AMAZINGLY helpful, thank you!

[MegaMsliz]

Perfect timing, virtual strategist. I will kick start this video with my leadership team tomorrow!

[Mimakoky]

Erica, you are the BEST!!! I love how you put everything into one picture. Great advice as always. Thank you!

[benedictagolu]

I truely appreciate the way you break up the stages and the fact that you are using a canvas with is ver very practical

[johnorhayles]

This is one of the best overviews I've seen in a long time. thank you so much.

[reynaldosebastian]

I watched about 4 strategic planning videos on you tube. Erica’s version is the best . Thanks

[grahambrown]

Clearly expressed. Now I understand the process much better.

[eandean]

this is so helpful to me you have no idea

[TaidinSuhaimin]

An excellent overview of Strategic Planning.

[varithp]

Wowww..You are the best teacher ❤. You make the hard thing becomes easier to understand within 1 pic. Thank you so much.

[GSCSoftware]

Finally a really good explanation of this process, Great video!

[cpvinod]

Excellent presentation..very brief and beautifully explained ..

[shayonsmith]

You've made a complicated thing very simple and easy to understand! Kudos!

[beveharris]

Awesome and to the point Erica. Thank you. This helps a lot.

[fahadshahabmba]

Amazing yet So simple. The best video on Strategic Plan.

[rajshekharhujarati]

Much thankful to you and your team, I am following your Videos.