marketing

Strategic Planning

The annual ritual of setting direction, priorities, and risks for the business.

Definition

Strategic planning is the structured process of setting the business's direction for a year (or longer): what we'll focus on, what we'll say no to, where we'll invest, what risks we're accepting. The most useful format is one page: 3 KPIs that define success, 3 commitments (key bets), 3 risks (what could derail us). Reviewed quarterly with light edits, not rewrites. The constraint of one page forces decision - 30-page plans become shelf documents.

In your business

  • Pick exactly 3 of each - no more
  • Tie commitments to specific numbers, not vague intentions
  • Quarterly 60-minute review - adjust, don't rewrite

Related terms

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