The Language of Level 1

The Language of Level 1

The last topic we need to talk about in Level 1 is its unique language. Level 1 consists of tools and methodologies that are primarily the domain of upper-level management. This language includes but is not limited to:

These tools require senior leadership to have unique skills and knowledge, but senior leaders are not often trained in how to effectively use them. This is especially true in smaller companies. Because of their complexity, it is easy to dismiss them, which may impair the quality of your strategic plan and its execution. The very first time you create your Business Hierarchy of Needs?, it would make sense to bring in an expert to lead the team through the process and to train your leaders on the appropriate tools so they will be able to effectively use them in the future. I suggest this because I am a huge fan of on-the-job training. Some of the skills, such as market research and Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis may exist one layer down in the management structure, which is a terrific way to involve more people in the strategic planning process. We will talk more about this issue in Level 2.

After reading this section, you should be thinking about:

1. Does everyone on the team understand the language of Level 1?

2. What tools do we need to effectively complete this level?

3. How do we train our leaders on the utilization of these tools?

4. How do we find subject matter experts in these areas?