Without the One Page Strategic Plan, a perfect plan can lead to no plan at all

Imagine the whole strategic plan for your business on one page. A document so succinct and crystal clear that everyone understands where the business is heading (the goals), how it’s going to get there (the strategy) and how it’s going to happen (the execution).

Every business needs a clear direction. A plan that works hard for you, driving alignment, accountability and focus. A plan that’s action-oriented, making it easy for everyone in the company to know where they’re going and what they need to do to get there, without being bogged down by complexity.  That’s what you’ll have when you create a One Page Strategic Plan, and it is the lynch pin in Scaling Up Methodology.  

For some leaders, however the pursuit of the perfect plan can lead to no plan whatsoever – so before we get started on explaining the One Page Strategic Plan (OPSP), there are three planning road blocks we need to address.

Aiming for Perfection.

If you’re aiming for the perfect plan, you’ll never get started and you’ll never finish! First, get it down, then get it right. The first step is often the hardest.

Sticking to the plan like glue.

Yes, it’s a plan – but as we all know life generally doesn’t go to plan.  The plan will change.  It’s a live document – consistently revisit and update it.

The Bottom Drawer.

A big mistake many businesses make is to work on a strategic plan, consider it ‘done’ – then park it in the bottom drawer, rarely revisiting and reviewing it.  Keep it alive! Talk about it, review it, challenge it (and the assumptions). You need to be constantly asking – what has changed and how do we respond?

 

The OPSP explained

To follow along with the description below, go to rgmconsulting.co.nz/resources and download your free copy of the One Page Strategic Plan.

The main components of a OPSP require you to answer seven basic questions: who, what, when, where, how, why, and the often challenging question, “But should we or shouldn’t we?”

The left side of OPSP starts with the core of your business: the long term foundations that don’t change much over time. 

  • Core Values/Beliefs – a handful of central beliefs that define who you are, how you roll, and what behaviour is expected in the team.
  • Purpose – what’s the reason your company exists (beyond making profit)?  What compelling purpose gets you out of bed in the morning, and engages your employees?
  • BHAG – your Big Hairy Audacious Goal, exciting and scary in equal parts, which pushes your thinking and challenges you to greatness.

As you move from left to right, the OPSP gets closer in time and more specific.

  • 3 Year Plan – where will you be in 3 years’ time? What are the 5 key strategic capabilities that are going to get you there? 
  • Year 1 Execution – what financial metrics are you shooting for this year? What are the 5 most important priorities to achieve over the next 12 months?  What’s your Critical Number – the single most important metric to move the business forward this year? 
  • Quarterly Execution – what are the top 5 priorities for the company to achieve in the next 90 days?  Who’s doing what?  Treating the quarter as a ’13 week sprint’ is a great way to turbo charge execution.
  • Theme – how can you engage your team in the plan for the quarter? How will you celebrate if you hit your targets? 
  • Finally, Individual Accountability – what parts of the plan are you personally accountable for?

The key to making rapid progress in a business is getting everyone on the same page.  But first you need the page!  The OPSP gives you that page – it’s the key to scaling your business successfully.