January 2008

Business Change: Do It Yourself or Get Help?

The Need for Strategic Planning in Financially Uncertain Times

Even successful businesses need to take a look at their business practices to ensure that they have a strong infrastructure, in terms of both processes and employees, so that they can be prepared to shift quickly with changing economic conditions -- businesses need to develop strategic plans to adjust to potential downturns as well as to act on growth opportunities.

As this month's quote (at right), by Alvin Toffler, suggests, adaptation is the key to surviving and perhaps even thriving under challenging economic circumstances. Strong organizations will have opportunities to acquire businesses that are not strong enough to weather downturns. Other organizations may need to be prepared to operate more leanly and eliminate products or services with lower margins. But all will need to operate as efficiently and effectively as possible; all thus will need strategic planning.

The question then becomes, can or should you engage in strategic planning yourself or should you get help?

Doing It Himself

We were discussing strategic planning with a financial services CEO at a recent lunch meeting. He talked about leading his management team through a review of their organization's mission, vision, and values. He felt that he had to drive the discussion; he was not satisfied with the level of engagement from his team in the process or outcomes. We shared our experience facilitating such dialogues, and he recognized the value of using outside consultants for this purpose.

When to Get Help with Strategic Planning

CEOs are experts in their businesses: They know the market opportunities and competition and have a vision for where their companies need to go. However, in our experience, strategic planning is as much about the process as the content. Our facilitation has enabled CEOs and team members to participate more fully in the strategic planning process, which leads to stronger support for the outcomes and more successful implementation. We have seen many teams move forward more effectively through this use of organizational consultants.

Other Reasons to Get Help

Outside support can be used for a variety of needs. Sometimes information is useful and can be applied directly; sometimes a helping hand is needed. This month's featured articles -- "Organize Your Office (and Time) for Maximum Efficiency" and "How Long Should You Keep Business Records" -- are filled with practical suggestions to help you become more efficient: Pam Mims, known for turning "piles into files," provides tips to help you transform a mess into a system. And if getting organized is not your personal interest or strength, you can call Pam to help you. We did, and our office runs more smoothly as a result.

So, Do It Yourself or Get Help?

No matter what change you are considering or what resources exist in your organization, we are available to help you think through your approach. We can support you in leading the change yourself or help you decide what outside resources are needed and where to get them. Win-Win has helped numerous organizations grow through collaborative solutions, and we are available to help you achieve the results you need. Call or e-mail us if you would like a "thought partner" as you consider your options for moving ahead, particularly in these financially uncertain times.

To your business success,

Rick and Gail