Benefits of Planning!
“Planning is everything, plans are worthless." -- Dwight D. Eisenhower
Last week we discussed The Planning Process, now we would like to discuss
The Benefits of The Planning Process.
Though these benefits are many, there are three that are especially significant:
1)Focus
Everyone has ideas, and many of them are good ones, but a rigorous planning process will guide our team and our organization to focus on the right things at the right time. It has been said what you choose not to do is as important as what you choose to do. This gets to the heart of planning---the narrowing of a spectrum of ideas into a sharp, forward-looking, and focused effort. The clarity that comes with this focus will decrease confusion, increase energy and creativity, and will allow everyone involved to be their best.
2)Intention
What can happen in your organization if everyone becomes more intentional? What untapped power and energy can be unleashed? With the clarity that sound planning brings, then everyone from the bottom to the top of the org chart will know what to do and know that the organization has their back as they do it. The opposite of this clarity is confusion, which renders any sort of intention virtually impossible. As sound planning yields clarity and focus, then we can apply ourselves purposefully and energetically to the tasks at hand, and then all of us will be able to move forward and take another step
3)Consistency
Any championship organization must be consistent in their protocols, their actions, and their methodologies if better and more favorable outcomes are desired. This begins with the planning process itself, as a consistent and deliberate approach to tactical and strategic planning will have a better chance of moving our organization in the right direction. If every challenge is handled on an ad hoc basis, then the results will be inconsistent, and our overall patterns will tilt towards ineffectiveness. When everyone in our organization is thinking, planning, and doing in consistent ways, then we all will be able to walk into tomorrow and make a play!
In the above, the General is not telling us that we need to create a perfect, complete, and final plan. Rather, we should use the planning process to create an environment of focus, intentionality, and consistency. The benefits of the planning process will sustain us through the good or bad days ahead. When everyone in the organization understands the direction of the organization and why, everyone will be determined to take another step.
Are you planning to fail or failing to plan?
What benefits do you get from planning?
How can Winning Edge help you gain focus, intentionality, and consistency?
Love to hear your success stories on how your planning process has benefited you and your organization.
