Don’t Push Off Strategic Planning: Download This Guide, and Get Started Now
Let’s face it. This year (ok, the last couple years) have been unpredictable, to say the least. And next year?! Who knows. But I think it’s fair to assume that digital services businesses will continue to face unprecedented challenges in the year ahead. You’re not alone, either. Salaries are on the rise, margins are getting squeezed, payment terms are getting extended, and clients are slower to sign contracts. It’s more important than ever for leaders to consider how they plan to mature their operations and stay confident in the year ahead.
Obviously, the best way to avoid letting chaos set in for leaders, their teams, and even their clients is to create well-communicated and documented strategies and goals. All too often, however, we procrastinate and try to construct the perfect planning process from scratch. Our advice: don’t.
All too often, however, we procrastinate and try to construct the perfect planning process from scratch. Our advice: don’t.
Planning, particularly planning for the next year during a busy Q4, can feel like a lot of work. It’s often pushed out and gets lost in the shuffle of everything else that needs to happen in the next few months. Especially today when leaders also are navigating economic uncertainty and experiencing disruption and change within their businesses.
During crunch time – when everyone is feeling hurried – it’s human nature to stick with the status quo. Leaders start to speed through their planning process, leveraging the same approach they always have, even if it’s painful. They might know there’s a better path forward, but they decide to stick with what they know. Or worse, they do nothing. This inherently causes anxiety, which usually trickles down to the team and can eventually impact client work, too.
We’re here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be this way! Strategic planning shouldn’t feel chaotic! With the right approach, it can actually feel good. And the companies that are thoughtful about planning – that get started now – come out on the other side thriving.
A strategic planning guide, designed for you
Digital services companies can use this period to (re)align their teams on the best opportunities for growth in the year ahead. Following a solid strategic planning process that has simple methods and habits is the best way to get started.
Our collective experiences informed the Strategic Planning Guide for Digital Services Companies, designed so leaders can embrace the planning process with confidence. By covering the fundamental steps and discussions – from prep and understanding your strategic starting point; to prioritizing your objectives and communicating, measuring, and managing the process – leadership teams can better understand where their organization is today and pinpoint areas of the business that need focus tomorrow.
Check out our latest e-book. We offer a number of templates and guides, including a framework for an Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) measurement framework, and we outline the recommended operational cadence that is a foundational element to successful, mature digital services organizations.
Planning is hard, but we’re here to make it easier.
Download the guide now.
