Strategic Planning Fundamentals

This advanced 20 hour course will teach you a step-by-step process to make robust strategic decisions and create a strategic plan for your organization in a simple format that will provide direction and focus for your team.

“The DIY alternative to having Stephen personally show up to facilitate your strategic planning sessions”

Over the past two decades, Stephen has facilitated thousands of strategic planning sessions. He previously managed a global team of more than fifty strategy consultants and has personally coached hundreds of companies in the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand to implement their plans.

Some of the things you will learn include :

• BHAG: Create a compelling future vision for your company
• Core Values: Create clear rules that define your culture, and guide behaviors
• Core Purpose: Why you do what you do (beyond simply making money)
• Target Customer: Clearly define and focus on the needs of your ideal customer profile
• Value Discipline (Generic Strategy): Know what “game” you are playing and make sure you are playing to win
• Core, Context, and Non-Core (Products, Services, Activities): What to start doing, develop, acquire, stop doing, outsource, or not start at all
• Industry Analysis: Get a clear picture of how your industry is likely to evolve, and the moves you need to make to create a competitive advantage
• Long-Term (3-to-5-Year) Strategic Moves: The Top 3 moves to position your firm for industry competitive advantage
• SWOT Analysis: Perform a robust analysis on your company, the way an outside investor would
• Key Initiatives and Strategic Projects (Big Rocks): Short-term projects to address current issues and drive immediate progress
• Strategic Positioning: Carve out and “own” a niche category in your industry
• Key Benefits: Define the functional, economic, and emotional benefits you offer
• Reasons to Believe: Communicate real reasons for your customers to believe you
• Brand Promise: The blunt, overt promise that compels your target customers to take action