The concept of a “strategic plan” traditionally evokes the image of a thick document full of complex graphics, analysis and theories. However, the reality is that a strategic plan should not be a sea of information impossible to consult. A strategic plan on a sheet (PEUP)concise, clear and direct, has the power to serve as a GPS that guides SMEs by the tortuous day to day and a future of success.
The simplicity that impacts
As Verne Harnish exposes in his work Scaling Upthe most successful organizations are not lost in the complexity of their vision. They focus on the essential, and have the ability to transmit it in a short conversation. If a management team cannot summarize the strategy in a few minutes, it is likely to face a cluster of unconnected ideas, instead of a clear direction.
The ABC of a strategic plan on a sheet
A good peup consists of two large blocks: The long term and the short term. That is, the global vision (the big dream) and the concrete actions for today. On the left side of the sheet, the fundamental vision, values and large objectives are defined (the “Bhag”, that bold objective that challenges the organization). On the right side, these ideas are landed in clear and measurable actions for the coming months: What to do? What to measure? Who is responsible?
This approach can be compared to a chess game. First, you visualize the long -term item (the vision), then define the most important strategic movements. Each concrete play adapts based on what happens on the board, allowing the necessary flexibility to react and adjust the course.
5 steps to create your own PEUP
1. Define the purpose: Beyond selling more, what is the reason for being your company? It establishes a clear purpose that distinguishes you in the market.
2. Establish values and culture: Without a solid values of values, the strategy will be a structure without foundations. Organizational culture is the compass that guides all actions.
3. Set five years: The objectives must be ambitious and measurable. Do not satisfy yourself with easy to meet tasks, create real challenges.
4. Design the kpis: The key performance indicators are the compass that will allow you to assess whether you are really moving in the right direction.
5. Define quarterly priorities: Establishes the key actions that must be carried out in the short term to ensure concrete advances.
Execution is key
A strategic plan can be brilliant, but its effectiveness lies in its execution. And this is where many fail: a plan that is not constantly reviewed loses its value quickly. The monitoring process must be dynamic, such as a GPS that recalculates its route according to what happens along the way. It is vital that the strategy is a recurring theme in the daily conversations of the organization, functioning as a guide that allows to maintain the course, adapting to changing circumstances.
The moment of acting
If your company is caught solving constant fires and lacks a clear strategic vision, it is time to rethink the way you work. A strategic plan on a sheet not only organizes, but Libera. When the goals are clear, decisions are taken safely and stop being in a constant career against the clock.
As Borges said: “The future is not what will happen, but what we are going to do.” With a well -designed and easy -to -consult strategic plan, all that remains to be done is act. Without complicated justifications, without unnecessary bureaucracy, only clarity and action. And that is the true key to success.
*Paula Chmielnicki is an industrial engineer and CEO of PCH Consultor, where she is dedicated to strategic consulting focused on the professionalization of SMEs.
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