Hope is not a Strategy ~ that works long term
Many of my clients have heard me say, “Hope is not a strategy!” Now, don’t get me wrong — I love a strong sense of hope. I find it awe-inspiring. But hope without work will only get you so far in the real world.
My mind loves the focus, energy, and fun of working on strategy, of having a great plan. I geek out on putting an idea into action and seeing how far we can go with it. Heck, I think I have a backup plan for almost everything and anything that could happen in a day. Now that does not mean I shut down the creativity and flexibility.
Almost the opposite have a working plan is like the framework of a house under construction. It shows me the outline of my day and establishes the goals I want to achieve.
In my coaching sessions, I frequently notice the value of creating great working plans by seeing the negative impact(s) of not having one. Now to be fair, not everyone enjoys strategizing as I do, and that’s okay. My ability to play chess in my mind with the situations my clients face — such as getting work groups to come together to work as a team or closing a sought-after prospect — is in part the value they seek from me.
So where do you start moving from hope to working plans?
A great strategy is simply a proactive, high-level plan for achieving your goal that involves both critical thinking and instinct.
Start by designing a process for decision making.
Having good, solid processes helps with strategy. It’s easier to achieve your goals when you already have a supportive infrastructure in place. Remember to review your processes to make sure they are up to date, still impactful and helping you achieve the strategic direction you desire.
