This is the time of year when planning sessions typically are held for boards and senior management teams to review the year’s progress and determine future goals. Often teams go on a retreat to focus on the planning session while others conduct the sessions in their own board rooms. The most important part of holding a planning session is to realign the members of the team for the challenges and opportunities in the next year and beyond.
Both Dennis Koepke, VP of LemmonTree, and I have conducted many strategic planning sessions to help clients focus their resources on the most important objectives and goals to move the organization forward and compete effectively in the changing marketplace.
For Denny, the question he always asks is: “What are the most important issues facing your team?” This helps bring planning priorities into focus.
The answer(s) also beg a look at the current economic climate, the social changes in the marketplace, and the every changing technology environment. One way to be able to uncover where your organization stands in being able to compete effectively is utilizing a SWOT (Strengths / Weaknesses / Opportunities / Threats) exercise. The results of the SWOT exercise, completed by board and senior management, provide enlightening and vital clues to determining what needs to be addressed to achieve goals for the next year and beyond.
Here are the 5 most important questions according to management guru Peter Drucker to kick off discussions at a planning session:
- What is your mission?
- Who is your customer?
- What does your customer value?
- What results do you seek?
- What is your plan?
If you want to a partner to facilitate your strategic planning session, or to review and enhance your strategic marketing plan, contact us at 7solutions@lemmontree.com or call us at 480.967.1405 or toll free at 888.536.6243.