Planning myths

Isn't planning only for the Fortune 500? Doesn't it take too much time?  How can some consultant know more about my business than I do? Didn't Business Week, Tom Peters, my nephew, or someone tell me strategic planning was dead? Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

Click here to find out what's true and debunk the myths.

What skills do you look for in a facilitator?

What's the big deal with facilitating?  What separates the professional from the gifted amateur? What are the skills that would make you a better facilitator?

Click here for a list of 14 facilitation skills.

Have you been feeling particularly stressed recently?

Some stress is necessary and healthy for you and your business. After all, nothing happens unless there is a driving force. However, when warm baths, breathing exercises and Benedictine chants no longer work it's time to step back and deal with the root causes of your stress.

Click here for a discussion on the root causes and cure for stress.

Nothing Getting Done These Days?

You keep approving new product and market developments - the team appears eager and committed - there are hot prospects for the new stuff and yet - nothing gets finished.

Click here for a discussion on dramatically increasing results.

Executive teamwork

Does it seem that everyone's telling you, you need more teamwork in your organization? Do personal agendas and politics rule the day? Is the only competition folks worry about from other departments? When something goes wrong do you have blame-storming sessions?

Click here for a discussion on generating executive teamwork.

What exactly do you mean by teamwork?

A common theme in planning meetings is the need for teamwork. We've asked dozens of teams during planning meetings exactly what their personal meaning of teamwork was. It is clear that everyone has a somewhat different concept of the term.

Click here for an exhaustive list of actual responses from meetings we've facilitated.

Why exactly do we need dates on milestones?

At the top of the Progress Pyramid™ are the action steps that make your vision, mission, and strategy a reality. We follow the Texas Instruments W3 approach for defining these action milestones. What are you going to do. Who is going to do it. When will it be finished. From time to time I ask the planning team why dates are important and what, exactly, they represent.

Click here for an exhaustive list of actual responses from meetings we've facilitated.

What exactly do you mean by accountability?

A common theme in planning meetings is the need for accountability. (The who is going to do it part of W3.) After asking dozens of teams during planning meetings just exactly what they mean, I now believe that everyone has a somewhat different idea of the term.

Click here for an exhaustive list of actual responses from meetings we've facilitated.

Planning Glossary.

As Humpty-Dumpty said "When I use a word, it means exactly what I mean it to mean, no more and no less."

Click here for a glossary of strategic planning terms and concepts.

What are the secrets to a successful planning meeting?