Recent Posts:Midyear is a good time to update your business’s strategic planStrategic planning isn’t meant to be a one-time exercise. Your plan should evolve with your business — and the environment in which it operates. Regular reviews help ensure your business remains focused on the right priorities and positioned to take advantage of new opportunities. Even if you can’t find time for extensive “big picture” thinking, try to conduct some form of active strategic planning at least once a year. Doing so will help you identify emerging challenges and evaluate progress toward short- and long-term goals. A fresh strategic plan also provides stakeholders with an up-to-date map they can use to orient decisions and measure outcomes. Get going Sometimes businesses procrastinate on new strategic planning because they’re busy pursuing current goals and are profitable enough not to mess with “the formula.” But more often, businesses delay it because a new strategic plan requires research they may not have time to conduct and fresh ideas that can be hard to generate. If you can’t commit to an annual review, don’t let more than three years pass without productively engaging in strategic planning. If it makes the undertaking easier, you might want to seek professional assistance — for instance, to perform research, lead strategy sessions, model financial outcomes, identify potential risks and assemble strategic ideas into a workable plan. In addition to freeing up your time, professionals offer experience and objectivity. Facilitators can put attendees at ease, foster creative thinking and adhere to productive agendas. Brainstorm without distraction Retreats often facilitate strategic planning sessions. So consider whether an off-site location makes sense given your attendees and project ambitions. There’s potential for excessive spending and counterproductive distractions. But if you plan carefully, you can arrange a distraction-free experience that allows participants to freely brainstorm. Your first session should review your business’s:
Next, come up with 1) several goals, 2) strategies for pursuing them and 3) metrics for measuring your progress. Some of these may be similar to existing objectives, action plans and measurements and may not require a lot of extra work. New ideas, however, should be thoroughly discussed and outlined. To ease the pressure of strategic planning, avoid trying to do everything at once. If you can accomplish the three points mentioned earlier in one session, schedule a follow-up meeting to develop a timeline and assign responsibilities. That plan should be formally approved by your business’s owners before it’s put into action. Helpful voices Your employees can play an important role in helping your new strategic plan succeed. To the extent practical, involve ordinary workers in the strategic goal-setting process. This will help build engagement and instill a sense of personal responsibility for your plan’s success. When you communicate the final plan, be sure it includes realistic ways for workers and others to be involved. We can help ensure your new plan is supported by sound financial analysis. For guidance on evaluating your business’s performance, identifying growth opportunities and facilitating planning sessions, contact us! You can find your local Padgett office here. The post Midyear is a good time to update your business’s strategic plan appeared first on Padgett. 07/09/2026
|
Blog
View All
SubscribeFrequently asked questions
We take care of your books for you, so you can get back to the job of running your business and generating profits.
We offer payroll solutions that meet your business's needs and enable you to spend time doing what you do best--running your company.
We offer a variety of services to help make sure that you are taking full advantage of Quickbooks' many features.
We're here to help you resolve your tax problems and put an end to the misery that the IRS can put you through.
We offer one-on-one guidance and a comprehensive financial plan that helps manage risk, improve performance, and ensure the growth and longevity of your wealth.