In this eBook, we explore the power of strategic planning – from actioning your vision to understanding your strengths and weaknesses to bridging the gap between vision and execution. Download the full eBook for free or read an excerpt below.

In the fast-paced world of business, staying ahead requires more than just focusing on daily operations. Taking the time to focus on strategic planning is crucial for companies, business units, and event department teams to ensure long-term success. It’s easy to get “stuck in the weeds” of execution but taking a step back to align on a clear vision (say five years out), assess capabilities and capability gaps, and plan actionable steps to bridge those gaps and achieve said vision is essential to achieving sustainable growth. 

At Clarkston, we understand the importance of establishing a compelling vision and the equal importance of ensuring it is executable. We recently completed a “rapid” strategy planning session with a Fortune 25 company. Over the course of a day, we collaboratively worked to define their five-year vision, aimed to capture their strategic aspirations, and documented a high-level roadmap for achieving their vision and aspirations. 

Vision: Setting the Stage for Success 

Steve Jobs famously said, “If you are working on something exciting that you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. The vision pulls you.” 

A clear and actionable vision serves as the foundation for all strategic planning. It not only defines the target customers and aligns with a company’s value proposition, but it also sets a clear path for guiding the company’s strategy. A strong vision resonates throughout the organization, providing direction and inspiring action, and asks the group “Who do we want to be in the next five years?” while assessing that question through key stakeholders – the organization, their customers, and their employees. 

The key to successful visioning is to think of the future unconstrained, letting go of barriers related to people, technology, corporate bureaucracy, or existing processes. Allowing the team to truly focus on what matters most to their stakeholders, serving as the North Star, and letting the vision pull you and your organization, department, or team, as Jobs highlights.  

Strategic planning is not a one-time exercise but an ongoing process that requires continuous alignment and adjustment. By defining a clear vision, assessing capabilities, and developing a structured action plan, organizations can move beyond day-to-day challenges and focus on long-term success.  

Creating a Strategic Planning Process 

In this ebook, we share the Clarkston approach to assess strengths and gaps as well as our top best practices for action planning to bridge the gap between vision and execution. Download this free eBook for a strategic planning process outline of the assessments, frameworks, and methodologies that our experts suggest to work towards attaining strategic goals. 

Clarkston’s Strategy + Innovation methodologies provide the tools and frameworks needed to support this process, ensuring that companies are well-positioned to achieve their strategic objectives and navigate the path to success. To learn more about the power of strategies planning initiatives, get in touch with our team of experts today.