How can you remain flexible while executing your small business's strategic plan?

It is essential to regularly examine and evaluate your strategy plan to?stay on course and adjust to the constantly evolving business environment. It's not enough to simply be adaptable; you also need to make sure that what you do aligns with your overall goal. Continuous assessment facilitates opportunity identification, problem-solving, and well-informed adjustment.

Your strategic plan shouldn't be a separate thing - it should be part of the day-to-day running of your small business! You shouldn't be getting out a plan once a quarter and reviewing it. You should be tracking daily - specifically the core metric (North Star metric) which, when hit consistently will AUTOMATICALLY get you to hit both your short term, and long-term targets.

Strategic plan is an oxymoron. The strategy describes a future state you strive to reach. How do you want to "plan" the future? Strategy is top-down. Planning is bottom-up. Strategy is the "What". Planning is the "How", the tactics. I suggest striking "strategic plan" from your vocabulary immediately.

Maintaining flexibility is key to thriving amidst external influences. Real-life small business examples illustrate how: Market Trends: A boutique clothing store, attuned to fashion shifts, adjusts its inventory promptly, meeting evolving customer demands. Competitor Moves: An IT consultancy monitors rivals' strategies, swiftly adapting its services to stay ahead in a competitive landscape. Technological Innovations: A local bakery embraces digital platforms for orders, aligning with tech trends to enhance customer convenience. By vigilantly monitoring and proactively responding to external factors, small businesses can secure their strategic plans and seize opportunities for growth.

Your team is the heartbeat of executing your strategic plan. Here are 3 tips to harness their potential: Involve and Empower: Engage your team in the planning process, tapping into their insights and empowering them to contribute meaningfully. Clear Communication: Share your vision, goals, and actions transparently, ensuring everyone is on the same page for a unified approach. Training and Support: Equip your team with the necessary skills through training and provide ongoing support, fostering a capable and confident workforce. By implementing these tips, you'll nurture a culture of flexibility, collaboration, and innovation within your small business.

Your strategy needs to paint an emotional vivid and attractive picture of the future state of your small business. Think of it as a captivating news story. Why is this important? People are only motivated by emotions. If you want your team to work hard at getting to that desired state, you better get them fired up about it. Then, let them decide about how to make progress towards that future state. The team can come up with the objectives for the next 90 days that will really move the needle. This bottom-up approach creates even more buy-in and motivation. It's a virtuous cycle!

Here are 5 tips for maintaining flexibility and innovation in your small business: Embrace Experimentation: Don't fear trying new ideas; experimentation fuels innovation. Test Varied Approaches: Test different methods to find what resonates with your audience. Measure and Adapt: Track results, allowing data-driven decisions and continuous improvement. Learn from Failures: View failures as stepping stones, offering insights for refinement. Customer-Centric Approach: Understand customer needs and preferences, differentiating your business effectively. By fostering a culture of experimentation and learning, your small business can adapt, thrive, and stand out in the market.

Here's how to achieve strategic harmony by balancing your small business's short-term and long-term goals effectively: Define Your Clear Short-Term Goals: Specific, easy-to-complete steps will lead to the achievement of your broader long-term outcomes. Adaptability is Key: Stay flexible by adjusting short-term goals as needed, aligning with evolving circumstances. Periodic Long-Term Goal Review: Regularly review long-term goals, ensuring alignment with your business vision and mission. Balancing these goals fosters focus, motivation, and adaptability in your small business journey.

As a small business, you have the superpower of implementing changes quickly. The key is to listen to team members who have more on-terrain experience, implement fast, and ask your team frequently.

Here’s my approach: 1. Stay True to Your 'Why': Keep your core mission in focus. For me, it's making a difference. This guides my adaptability without losing my purpose. 2. Regular Reviews: Taking cues from Mike Michalowicz and Tony Robbins, I believe in constant evaluation and adjustment. It’s about impact, not just numbers. 3. Adapt to Change: The market shifts, and so should strategies, but always with your end goal in mind. It’s about a business that serves and responds. 4. Community Engagement: Feedback is key. Connect, listen, and let your audience help shape some decisions. It’s about collaboration. 5. Continuous Learning: Change is constant. Stay updated, whether it’s accounting or global issues, to adapt effectively.

As a business owner you will be pulled in every direction. Build yourself a default calendar that changes with your goals EVERY 90 days!