Copyrighted by Meridith Powell
AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR KEYNOTE SPEAKER, BUSINESS STRATEGIST, SALES/LEADERSHIP EXPERT
You’ve created your strategic plan, you know where you are taking your business, who is going to do what, and you are among the few who are prepared for 2021. Congratulations!
But before you get too comfortable, or move on to the next project, you need to think about how you are going to communicate your strategic plan. What is your game plan for getting your team engaged, your company focused, and everyone doing what it takes to ensure your strategy is executed?
Developing strategic plans is a great first step. But the strategies you put into place, and the steps you take to communicate your strategic plan are critical to ensuring your team buys in and supports your vision.
How to Effectively Communicate Your Strategic Plan.
Effectively communicating your strategy is as important as creating it. Here are top seven steps to communicate your strategic plan:
1. All Company Meeting – call a company-wide meeting to present your strategic plan. Share it in detail, helping them connect the dots as to how your goals support your vision, how the company values serve as a guide to developing the action plans.
Use this time to get your team’s ideas and input on how to keep the plan visible, and what types of updates they would like to see. Every team member should leave this meeting feeling that they both understand the plan and that they are a part of it. People support what they help create, so everyone should feel some level of ownership.
2. Vision Everywhere – ensure your vision and values are displayed everywhere. On email signatures, posters in the breakroom, and as the start and stop of every meeting. The more your team sees the vision and values, the more they will embody the strategic plan.
3. Department Connections – have each department take the strategic plan and create their department version. In other of the vision, mission, values, and goals of your organization. words, what is their department’s strategic plan, and how does it support the overall company strategic plan? Each department should have defined responsibilities and a clear focus as to how their strategy links to the overall strategy for the business.
4. Consistent Updates– use company meetings, newsletters, and other communication mediums to give regular and consistent updates of your strategic plan. Keeping the team in the loop as to the progress they are making will increase their commitment to the plan.
5. On-boarding – make sure that you review your onboarding process for the inclusion of the strategic plan. You are ensuring that all new employees are versed and aware
6. Marketing Piece – create a marketing piece – a simple and easy-to-read hand-out that you can share at meetings and community events. Encourage employees to keep it at their desk, or a picture of it on their phones for easy access.
7. Video – one of the most powerful ways to promote and communicate your strategic plan. You can use video to share the plan, provide updates to the plan, and keep people inspired and motivated as to the progress of your strategic plan. At least twice a year, shoot a video about your strategic plan. House it on your website, keep it on your YouTube channel, and post it on social media.
Developing a strategic plan is a great first step. Keeping the plan visible is the key to ensure your plan is followed and executed. Use these strategies to communicate your plan and watch your team engage and take ownership. ~ Meridith Powell
I would love to hear your ideas and strategies, what you’re doing to find talent in tough times. Share your thoughts and comments with me – on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter. Or you can e-mail them to me at meridith at meridithelliottpowell.com. I would love to hear them. ~ Meridith Powell
https://meridithelliottpowell.com/
About The Author
