Articles—Issue 5, December 2005 Back to Article Index I hope that you had as many things to be thankful for as I did this Thanksgiving! As you start your holiday shopping, think about what your company should have under the tree this year... How's That Been Working for You? I have been fortunate to be able to speak to several groups recently on the topic of "Demystifying Strategic Planning." Having been in senior leadership roles for many years prior to founding my consulting practice, I can share many mistakes that I have participated in—sometimes leading the charge—and witnessed, along with successful techniques that I have discovered. From the comments that I get after the talks, it is clear that many people struggle year after year with ineffective planning (and perhaps more importantly, execution) and yet continue to do the same thing over and over. It is a bit like meeting someone who speaks a different language so you repeat your message slower and louder, over and over in the hope that it will eventually get through. It rarely will. Sometimes you need to change the language. I recently traded e-mails with a well respected fellow consultant and his observation was that for some CEOs to ask for outside help with strategic planning or execution was paramount to asking for psychiatric help. What a shame. I’ve yet to meet a senior executive who is good at everything; though I have met a few who believe that they are. On the flip side, I have been fortunate to meet and work with many senior executives who are inquisitive, open to change and feedback, and do not let their egos get in the way. My “empirical research” indicates that they have more fun, are more successful, and enjoy the support of their co-workers. A collaborative style is one of the keys to their success. As I have noted before; when you hire a pair of hands, you also—usually—get a brain. It makes sense to use it. Have a great holiday season! I hope that your year ends on budget and firmly in the black. If not, you could try it slower and louder next year… (c)2005 by Tood Ordal. You are welcome to share this informational article with others. Todd Ordal is a business consultant helping executives struggling with execution. Prior to founding the consulting firm Applied Strategy LLC, Todd spent over 25 years in management and executive roles such as President and CEO. You can contact Todd at todd@appliedstrategy.info