If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves.”
– Thomas Alva Edison
“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!” – Benjamin Franklin
If you want a consistently high performing organization, then each year you must have an aggressive, well-developed plan and you must execute flawlessly, with passion. Furthermore, for businesses comprised of more than one person, it is essential that your plan is jointly developed with the full participation and ownership of all key stakeholders. You must create an environment in which building an annual plan to exceed goals is not a surprise to anyone because the expectation for high performance is business as usual.
Early on in the planning session, the Senior Business Leader will present the stretch target(s) for the upcoming year/business cycle. (For our discussion here, a stretch target is defined as one which exceeds business plan top line revenue by more than 10%, while surpassing bottom line profitability, as well.) The Senior Business Leader will articulate and confirm understanding as to the respective portion of the revised growth target which is attributable to each member of the team. Clear and unequivocal accountability must be established and acknowledged.
The Senior Business Leader should expect some push-back and concerns as to what is realistic and truly attainable. And thus, a spirited, informed discussion/debate will be encouraged by enlightened Senior Leaders. This will likely cover issues such as current and planned product/service offerings, the market, competition, economic environment, etc. The discussion here is necessary for providing for a healthy exchange of information that will result in a clear identification of bona fide issues and obstacles. That is, those critical success factors and potential roadblocks delineated through this process will provide the framework to help define the blueprint (strategies, tactics, initiatives, resources/support etc. and associated timelines) to meet high performance, stretch goals. (Note: Of course, the original stretch target may indeed be modified based upon the input from stakeholders in the meeting. However, there now is joint ownership of the new aggressive goal, as well as a common understanding of what it will take to be successful.)
Finally, the Senior Business Leader must make a firm and irrevocable commitment to provide the necessary funding, compensation/rewards, resources and support that the team has identified as requisite to attain the desired result(s). This must include a rigorous process for review and inspection to ensure consistent disciplined execution.
Summary:
- Create accountability and jointly formulate an aggressive strategic growth program
- Operationalize strategies, with SMART goals and action plans to drive results
- Define and initiate a rigorous framework for accountability to include the following:
– daily and weekly inspection of activities
– scheduled operations reviews (monthly or quarterly)
– periodic strategy assessments (semi-annual or annual)
Contact us for more information about how A Vital Business Growth Solutions can assist you with successfully creating a proven and disciplined process for high performance. We will help you grow your business in a consistent, predictable and reliable manner!
