Well, sometimes we see that, and we adjustour course. Unfortunately, that’s the exception not the rule in business. In business, we post that plan for all to see, monitor ourprogress, celebrate meeting the deliverables on that plan – but do we ever questioned the plan itself, once it’s completed?
The key to successful planning is flexibility.
Market leaders know that even the best plans must change as they move forward. What we decided to do six months ago as part of our overall product development and launch plan may no longer be the best action. As we execute on our plans, we receive feedback from our audiences; our customers, prospects, partners and industry thought leaders.
Their inputs often call for a change in the plan, perhaps even a change in our course. It all too often, we’re so stop in our focus on that plan and its deliverables, we can’t see the need to change. We continue on with that plan, executing and flawlessly, and then wonder why we weren’t successful in the market.
I’m not saying to throw away our plans and run aimlessly in any direction that a single market breeze blows. That it be kind of silly, now wouldn’t it? I am not saying that a plan is a tool to help monitor our progress toward success. We need plans.
We also need to realize that the plan is not our goal. Success is our goal. To reach for success. We have to be ready to of all our plans. We need to focus on the results that will make a successful – especially when that means a change in our plans.
Plans shouldn’t be written in stone. Rather, plans must be as flexible and dynamic as the markets we serve. In today’s world, that’ mean we have to be ready to spin on a dime.
Are you ready?
