Learn with Aileron: 3 Thought Shifts for Better Strategic Planning

Nearly 30 years ago when Aileron was founded, our first service was designed to help private business owners design their strategies. Now, three decades of study later, we’ve learned a lot about small business strategy. This post captures three common but outdated perspectives on strategic planning and offers more productive thought shifts to replace them.

Old Thought New Thought
One process fits all. Flex the process to serve us.
Strategic planning is the business owner’s responsibility. Strategic planning is a team sport.
Strategic planning is an annual event. The strategic plan informs the day-to-day work.

Shift 1: From “One process fits all” to “Flex the process to serve us”

A quick Google search of “strategic planning process” will pull up thousands of results promising a step-by-step technique for strategic planning that’s sure to work for your business – but when it comes to this critically important and interconnected part of an organization, one size cannot possibly fit all; using a process from a blog online likely isn’t going to lead to the best outcome for your team.

A more productive approach is to shape a process that serves your team and your organization’s comfort with strategic planning. If your team is new to strategy, you might need more outside support, perspective, and structure. On the other hand, if your team is highly competent in strategy, you might benefit from a more lightweight process. Either way, you’ll want to use a process that serves your team and your goals.

Shift 2: From “Strategic planning is the business owner’s responsibility” to “Strategic planning is a team sport”

Some business owners believe that strategic planning falls solely on their shoulders, which can leave them paralyzed by overwhelm – and who wouldn’t be? At Aileron, we’ve learned that strategic planning is a team sport. Yes, the business owner is an important leader in the process, but they should be backed by a competent leadership team and, when possible, a Facilitator who can coach the team through the process. A team approach comes with multiple advantages: more perspectives and insights, more resources to help move the work forward, and a better overall outcome.

Shift 3: From “Strategic planning is an annual event” to “The strategic plan informs the day-to-day work”

A traditional (and outdated) way of approaching strategic planning is to consider it an annual (or even less frequent) review of the business and its priorities. Under this mindset, strategic plans are typically reviewed and approved by a board, finalized and stored somewhere, and left unvisited until the next annual session.

This approach undermines the power of a strategic plan and its ability to work for your business.

When you undergo strategic planning, you’ll select the most important priorities for the business, and those priorities should trickle down into the organization’s day-to-day decisions, tasks, and activities. Your strategic plan is most powerful when it’s integrated into the business, not left on a shelf.

How we leveraged these beliefs to design a better strategic planning service

We’ve baked all these learnings (and more) into Strategic Planning and Execution, a 12-month experience that guides business owners and their leadership teams to shape a shared direction for the future and implement actionable strategic plans to realize it. Here’s how.

A process that flexes to meet your needs

Strategic Planning and Execution is a modular service that meets your organization where you are. The service is delivered using tracks: common paths that pull in modules based on your goals. When you begin your journey, you’ll identify an existing track to follow or build a custom track for a unique experience that’s all your own.

We also offer two different package options – a high-support experience with more frequent touchpoints or a low-touch experience that still offers the direction and guidance you need to see the work through.

How we made strategic planning a team sport

Your Strategic Planning and Execution experience begins by defining the Strategy Team – the leaders in your organization who will go through the process with you. Throughout your experience you’re also supported by your Facilitator, a small business strategy specialist who guides your journey and pulls in other specialists from the Aileron team when it makes sense.

How your strategic plans will inform the day-to-day

Our process empowers your team to develop strategic plans that are focused on action. These aren’t the set-it-and-forget-it documents; they’re actionable plans you and your team will move forward back at the office with support from your Aileron Facilitator. Said differently, your strategy will integrate into your daily work – which will make it more powerful and effective than ever.

If your team could use structure, guidance, and proven process to define your strategy, execute it, or both, we’d love to hear from you. Read more about Strategic Planning and Execution and reach out to learn more at the link below.