What is a Strategy or Strategies? Well, it’s a method or plan to achieve a desired future objective, achievement, goal or solution – it’s how you plan and allocate resources. A Strategy should remain flexible to reflect the industry or sector environment at any time to achieve your objective. Just a quick line on Objectives and Vision, they should remain constant if you have designed them correctly, they should not change. Your Strategies are the actions that should be flexible to achieve your business or personnel objectives which support your vision.

It’s very important you know the industry or sector you’re looking to apply your Strategies to – have you done your homework? If you do not research and plan then you should prepare to fail – you will waste time, energy, money and lose confidence in the process.

Have you asked yourselves some simple questions:

• What do you want and why is this important?
• When do you want this to happen and by whom?
• Do we have a track record, do we have strong relationships?
• What do we need to do now and in the future?

Walk before you run, do your research then be realistic with your plans, build confidence and success will follow. I have seen too many clients, never mind organisations of various sizes, make knee jerk reactions to events. Take stock and think clearly.

You should not look to have any more than 5 Strategies to support each objective and provide clear focus on each Strategy. Do regular reviews on the progress of each Strategy against your original timeline for delivery. Have you allocated sufficient resource to achieve your Strategy, do you need third party help? In our experience if you have less than 5 Strategies, say 3, then you have a greater chance to deliver on each Strategy. Positive results build confidence – take small achievable steps – do not over stretch your people or your business.

Strategy or Strategies are very important. Many people have them, then they are locked away in a draw never to see the light of day until the next time you’re asked to produce a Strategy or business plan. They need to become part of your business ethos. They will help you achieve your objectives quickly and effectively if well thought out. You need to be proactive in your business and not reactive to keep ahead of the competition, maintaining your position in the market.

If you know your industry and sector, keeping your eyes and ears open, engaging with people at all levels to obtain a balanced view, your strategies will be more effective and more valuable to your future growth helping to maintain a profitable business. Your Strategy should be to get your Vision & Objectives right with realistic Strategies to deliver the results you all want.