5 Steps to Building a Culture of Strategic Thinking and Planning

Building a culture of strategic thinking and planning is crucial for the success of any organization. It involves creating an environment where everyone understands the importance of strategic planning and is motivated to contribute to the process. Discover how to build a culture of strategic thinking and planning with the following steps backed by data and statistics.

Step 1: Communicate the Importance of Business-level Strategy

The first step in building a culture of strategic thinking and planning is to communicate the importance to everyone in the organization. According to a survey conducted by the HarvardBusiness Review, only 28% of employees believe that their organization's corporate-level strategy is understood by all employees. This lack of understanding can lead to poor decision-making and wasted resources. Organizations must communicate the value of strategic thinking and planning to employees regularly. This can be done through training programs, workshops and internal communication channels.

Step 2: Involve Employees in the Corporate Planning Process

When employees feel like their ideas are valued, they are more likely to engage in the strategic planning process. According to a study by McKinsey, companies that involve employees in the planning process are 2.5 times more likely to be successful in their strategic initiatives. Organizations can involve employees by creating cross-functional teams, holding brainstorming sessions and conducting surveys to gather feedback.

Step 3: Make Strategic Thinking and Planning Part of Performance Evaluations

Continue to build a culture of strategic thinking and planning by making it part of performance evaluations. According to a survey conducted by the Corporate Executive Board, organizations that align employee goals with the organization's strategy are 72% more successful than those that do not. Incorporating these initiatives into performance evaluations encourages employees to think strategically and contribute to the planning process.

Step 4: Provide Resources and Support

According to a study by the ProjectManagement Institute, organizations that invest in project management tools and training are 28 times more likely to be successful in their strategic initiatives. Allocate time and budget for planning activities while also providing tools and software to support the planning process.

Step 5: Celebrate Successes and Learn from Failures of Strategy Implementation

When employees see that their contributions are valued and that the organization is achieving its goals, they are more likely to continue engaging in planning within an organization. At the same time, when failures occur, organizations must use them as learning opportunities to improve planning processes. According to a survey conducted by the HarvardBusiness Review, 70% of successful companies use failure as a learning opportunity.

Organizations can fuel success by prioritizing a culture of strategic thinking and planning, involving employees, providing support and acknowledging results.

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