You have the perfect Strategic Plan, now the real work begins: Making it happen!
Here are the crucial steps to launch and activate your Strategic Plan effectively, and make your dreams a reality.
1. Leadership Kickoff Meeting:
The journey begins with your leadership team. Schedule an internal kick-off meeting to recap on the Workshop outcomes including Moonshot, Vision, Purpose, and Values. Projects and leads were documented in the Workshop, so decide on how frequently you will meet and review progress.
2. Validation of the Moonshot:
Before you embark on your ambitious Moonshot goal, validate the business case. Ensure that your Moonshot aligns with your organisation’s capabilities and market opportunity. This step can save valuable time and resources by fine-tuning your strategy to be more impactful.
3. Vision Board Creation:
What does success look like? What does success feel like? Clarity of Vision is one of the most effective ways that leaders can motivate teams. The team wants to understand, be onboard with, and buy in to the Vision, but it needs to be clearly documented and communicated to them. A Vision board is a visual story to help the team to imagine the future state of your organisation. Brainstorm images of what success looks like at the future point in time you have nominated. Use your Moonshot and refer to elements (below) described in your Vision and find ways to represent this visually. There should be enough detail, so you’ll know as a group when you’ve achieved the Vision. Compile these images together on your Vision board. Display your Vision board prominently in your workspace to remind everyone of what the future success state looks like.
The Year
- What are we known for? What are we proud of?
- What customers do we serve?
- What products / services do we offer?
- What is our Business Model?
- Areas of growth?
- What geographies?
- What does our team and culture look like?
- Have we won any awards?
- Do we have any social responsibility initiatives?
- What is our turnover / profit?
4. Measuring Progress:
Define clear metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs) for tracking your Moonshot progress. Decide how often you’ll assess and communicate this progress to the team, whether it’s monthly, quarterly, or as needed. Think of creative ways that progress could be communicated displayed and shared in a fun way. Is there a live data feed? A scoreboard? Or just a shared spreadsheet? Setting milestones and regularly reviewing them keeps everyone focused and motivated.
5. Celebrate Sub-Goals:
Breaking your Moonshot goal into smaller sub-goals can make it more manageable. Celebrate each milestone achieved along the way. Recognise and reward the team’s hard work and dedication. Celebrations build morale and drive further commitment.
6. Blast Off:
Set an internal launch date to rally the team around your Strategic Plan. Consider dedicating half a day to team-building activities and onboarding. This event should induct the team in your Moonshot, Vision Purpose, Values, and will foster a sense of unity, excitement and commitment for the team. Individuals can ask about any perceived blockers, enablers, and the alignment of behaviours with your Values.
Conclusion:
The success of your Strategic Plan hinges on your ability to turn intentions into actions. By following these steps, you’ll not only launch your plan effectively but also keep it on course as you journey toward your Moonshot goal. With the right leadership, metrics, and a commitment to celebrating successes, you’ll transform your Vision into reality, one milestone at a time. Remember, it’s not just about where you’re going but also about how you get there as a team.
