How the Plan?

Last week, I wrote about how a plan is key to us getting through the next few months. I pointed out that having a plan, even if its the worng one is better than no plan at all.

Let me expand on that a bit

A plan starts with where you are, and where you want to get to. You should definitely know where you are..you have your management accounts, current cash and sales pipeline, costs and confirmed income etc. Where you want to get to is up to you.

I've seen businesses in the last week just hunker down. Survival is their target. Other businesses have taken time to reassess and realign their ambitions. By pulling a plan together, they've realised that ambitious targets aren't always the best way forwards, or the most profitable. Today, we need to be realistic, and think long term.

I've seen some really good business plans recently. Plans that have a sense of direction, but recognise where the risks are. There is an admission that not everything is under control, that they may have missed something. So every couple of days they are back looking at the plan and re assessing decisions.

So the plan you start with my be the worng one. But it's a start. It's at least a measure of where you are. A yardstick to assess the direction of travel, and a framework that new ideas can be added to.

It doesn't need to be complicated, or follow a presribed format. It just needs to be your plan

If there is no plan, you are drifting and have handed over decision making to circumstances. is that what you really want for your business?

Chris Moran is MD of JCM Business Solutions Ltd and Management Consultancy and Zoho Partner Working with over 500 Companies of all sizes across a number of sectors we help them achieve their objectives. We can help you to in these strange times. If you'd like an informal chat about planning and business, just DM me.