If you could close your eyes and make a wish for a better business year, how would that look in terms of planning?

Having a vision is everything. That high-level idea or concept of a solid plan, as well as how the plan rolls out smoothly and gets results in your organization, is your starting point to planning success. But many leaders, albeit well intentioned, fall short on developing that vision, much less giving real definition or legs to their plans. Why?

There are a number of common reasons. Here are just a few. (Do any resonate with you?)

Reason #1: Fear of investing, then failing. We all know how hard it can be to stick to planning goals. A lot of plans, particularly those that don’t build in a solid accountability system like the MAP Management System™, will fail to take root, much less make traction. Because of that, many leaders—not wishing to fail at a plan—just decide to run things reactively. The fear is understandable, although managing a business in a haphazard way does nothing but give rise to risk, over and over again. It’s basically a prescription for fear-based leadership, management and operations. It doesn’t work.

Reason #2: They think planning thwarts innovation, responsiveness and being agile. True, planning may seem like a laborious, rigid and prescriptive task but, truth is, with both the right plan and planning approach, creativity, ingenuity, new solutions, dynamic tools and agility can all co-exist and flourish organically. In fact, highly functional accountability plans build in requirements to measure, assess and respond frequently. This can call for highly innovative solutions and the flexibility to make changes (and often lightning quick!) around whatever goals are being met or not met.

Reason #3: They don’t know which planning resources and guidance they can trust. Most leaders, when serious about pursuing an organization’s vision and goals, lean on planning experts and other proven resources and tools for support. They recognize the time and commitment required, and how bringing in someone who has made planning their life’s work can minimize the odds of developing a dysfunctional plan or failing to follow through on a good plan. That’s why since 1960, thousands of leaders from countless industries have come to Management Action Programs, for business coaching, business planning, and the MAP Management System™. But how do you know whether MAP (or another planning firm) is best for you? Simple. Do your homework. Interview the firms you’re considering hiring, asking them for referrals, requesting proof of great results, and exploring their history and ability to consistently serve clients.

This year, don’t put planning off another minute. We’d love to connect and help you understand why our accountability planning sets itself apart from the competition. Contact Us today!