Hey, I’m Sarah, and if you’re anything like me, the idea of creating a strategic plan might initially seem overwhelming. It used to be for me, too. I’d sit down with a blank page and no real idea how to translate my business goals into an actionable plan. But after spending years figuring out what works (and what doesn’t), I’ve learned that creating a solid, actionable strategy is easier than you think—if you approach it correctly.
In this guide, I’ll share my top strategic plan tips to help you start and create a plan to drive real results. Whether you want to grow your business, pivot in a new direction, or gain more clarity in your operations, these five steps will simplify the process and set you up for success. Let’s dive in!
1. Start with Clear, Measurable Goals
The first step to any successful strategy is knowing exactly what you aim for. This might sound obvious, but you’d be surprised how many strategic plans fail because the goals aren’t clearly defined. Trust me, I’ve been there. At one point, I had a vague objective of “increasing sales,” but without specifics, it was hard to measure progress.
To avoid that mistake, ask yourself these questions:
- What specific outcomes do I want to achieve?
- How will I measure success?
- What is my timeline for achieving these goals?
Your goals should follow the SMART framework: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For example, instead of saying, “I want to increase sales,” you might say, “I want to increase monthly revenue by 15% over the next six months by expanding into three new markets.”
2. Do a SWOT Analysis (Yes, It’s Still Relevant)
I know—SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) might sound like something from a college textbook. But hear me out: it’s incredibly helpful for understanding where your business stands. And it’s one of those tried-and-true strategic plan tips that can help you make smart decisions moving forward.
When I did my first SWOT analysis, I realized my business had ignored some key opportunities because we were so focused on fixing our weaknesses. Once I shifted focus and started playing to our strengths, everything changed. Here’s a quick breakdown of how to approach it:
- Strengths: What does your business do well? What makes you stand out from competitors?
- Weaknesses: Where could you improve? What resources or capabilities are you lacking?
- Opportunities: What trends or changes in the market could you capitalize on?
- Threats: What external challenges could disrupt your progress?
This analysis will give you a clear picture of where you are and where you could be, setting you up for smarter, more focused strategic planning.
3. Prioritise and Break Down Your Action Steps
Once you’ve set your goals and done a SWOT analysis, the next challenge is breaking everything down into manageable steps. This is where a lot of people get stuck. I used to get caught in this trap, having big goals but no clear path.
Here’s my advice: Don’t try to do everything at once. Instead, prioritise. Focus on the tasks that will impact your goals most, and break them down into smaller, actionable steps. For example:
- Goal: Increase revenue by 15% in six months.
- Action Steps:
- Research three new markets to enter.
- Develop marketing materials for these markets.
- Set up initial sales calls with five key potential clients in each market.
This way, your strategy isn’t just a lofty idea—it’s a clear action plan with specific steps you can track and measure over time.
4. Build in Flexibility (Plans Change!)
One thing I’ve learned the hard way? Things rarely go exactly as planned. And that’s okay. The best strategic plans are flexible, allowing you to pivot if something changes—a shift in the market, an unexpected challenge, or new opportunities you didn’t see coming.
I always recommend reviewing your strategy regularly—maybe quarterly or every six months—to see what’s working, what’s not, and whether any adjustments need to be made. Being open to change doesn’t mean you’re failing; you’re smart enough to adapt.
5. Track Your Progress and Celebrate Wins
The last step (and one of my favourites!) is to track your progress and celebrate when you hit milestones. Too often, we get so focused on achieving our ultimate goal that we forget to appreciate the smaller wins. But trust me, acknowledging those victories is important—it keeps you motivated and energized.
Set up regular check-ins with your team or yourself to review how things are going. Are you meeting your deadlines? Is the strategy yielding the results you expected? If not, don’t be afraid to make changes and refocus.
I like setting up a simple spreadsheet to track key metrics related to my goals. For example, if your goal is to increase revenue, you could track sales growth month by month. If you’re trying to expand your online presence, you might track website traffic or social media engagement.
And when you hit a milestone? Celebrate! Maybe it’s a team lunch or a simple “thank you” email acknowledging the hard work. Trust me, those moments of recognition go a long way.
Final Thoughts
Creating a strategic plan doesn’t have to be daunting or overly complicated. With these five strategic plan tips, you’ll have a roadmap that’s clear, actionable, and built for success. Remember, the key is to start with specific goals, stay flexible, and track your progress every step of the way.
Now, I’d love to hear from you. What’s your biggest challenge regarding strategic planning? Comment below, and let’s discuss how we can tackle it together!
Oh, and don’t forget to share this guide if you found it helpful—sharing is caring, right?