PERSONAL BUT COLLABORATIVE
Developing a Personal Strategic Plan
Growth comes when my plans and work intersect with the plans and work of others.
I’ve been trying to follow my own advice lately. It’s partly a thought experiment to determine if the advice really holds true in all contexts. As I covered in my last blog, I think everyone should have their own personal strategic plan. Today, I’m sharing mine, but first I want to explain how I got here.
I figured I should start this process the way an organization would. Typically, strategic planning would start with some type of assessment process. At that time, the main priorities of key stakeholders are explored, along with the factors impacting those priorities. In my case, I started about 3 months ago by talking with my husband mainly because I just could not plan out the rest of my life solo (I’d love to know if anyone can). We identified what we wanted out of life in the broadest of terms. From there, we talked about what would need to occur to get what we wanted, exploring anything that might influence our ability to achieve our priorities. We (ok, I) drew a diagram modeling the logic of it all. I gave that some time to sink in to make sure I wasn’t forgetting some hugely important characteristic of my perfect life.
Like in a formal strategic planning process, I started to think more systematically, focusing on what things I have going for me and what barriers are in my way. I switched my mind’s eye to the future, listing opportunities and potential threats to achieving my vision. I then took all of this and started mapping out my vision and the strategic plan for reaching that vision.
This type of analysis should theoretically give me what I need to identify focus areas, goals and action steps to help achieve those goals, but strategic planning, and really all planning, is best done in community— in partnership with those who will help you to make progress towards your vision. Part of the power of effective strategic planning is that it gives teams the opportunity to shape and therefore own the direction of the team’s work. But including diverse perspectives does more than boost buy-in. It creates better plans. Collaboration has proven time and time again to result in something greater than the sum of its parts.
Unfortunately, I don’t have a team, at least not in the traditional sense. However, over the course of my life, I am certain that others will help me to make progress towards my personal vision. In fact, many already have even though my strategic plan had not yet been written. In sharing my personal strategic vision, I hope to further not only my own vision, but that of others as well. If we are transparent with each other about what we are trying to achieve, we will discover many more opportunities to collaborate on activities that help everyone achieve their respective visions.
In that spirit, please consider sharing your feedback on my plan, either via comment or message. If you’d be interested in having a thought partner in your own personal strategic planning process, just reach out! I’d be happy to help!
Focus Area 1
Focus Area 2
Focus Area 3
