Three Things You Must Have
if you are actually going to get the desired results you want.
Here they are. You need . . .
1. A plan to implement.
2. The authority and power to control the execution.
3. Constant evaluation and adjustment.
There are other things you will need as well, but these are the three essentials. If you don't have these three things, it really doesn't matter what else you may have. These things are CRUCIAL
The PLAN.
We can call this strategic planning. In one sense, the plan is your strategy. But in another sense, we use the word "strategic" as an adjective to emphasize the importance and the value of the plan.
I am not going to tell you how to do Strategic Planning in this post. I am going to recommend that if you struggle with plannning, then it will be INVALUABLE for you to get a decent book on strategic planning. There are many out there.
Here is a simple, accessible one for you. Bobb Biehl's MasterPlanning is a very nice, easy, but thorough book that will walk you step by step in making a plan.
If you want more details on this process, then get the book for Dummies. Again, well written, lots of practical guidance... just more of it.
I will say this about strategic planning.
It always involves real objectives and outcomes that are the indicators that your vision/mission is being achieved.
It always involves steps you take toward reaching any objective.
It always involves resources, activities, events, people, deadlines, obstacles, problems that give shape to the steps you must take.
We are always dealing with these things. It is just that so many of us do it in a haphazard, inconsistent, unthoughtful way. In other words, we all have a plan.
It is just a matter of - is it a good plan or a bad plan?
Realistic or unrealistic?
Wise or unwise?
Strategic or careless?
Thorough or incomplete.
I am currently working with a team of staff and ministry partners at LWCC to implement an overhaul of spiritual formation at our church. We are working on our strategic plan for this.
It was sobering to map out deadlines and see how much work was needed to be done and the TIME we had to get things done. If we had not done this, THERE IS NO WAY that we would be able to implement the really good things we want to do this fall.
If you want to read a great biblical story of a leader who had a strategic plan - read Nehemiah, especially the first six chapters to see how a great plan (filled with the power of the sovereign God) accomplished something so incredible that the surrounding people were amazed at what God had done.
So - do you have an actual plan on paper? Do you have anything written down that involves steps, goals, resources, time, people, and so on? When was the last time you actually used your plan?
Tomorrow - do you have the authority you need to work your plan?
Brian K. Rice
Leadership ConneXtions International
www.lci.typepad.com
