Annual Strategic Planning Days
Do we have a clear one page strategic plan with our annual strategic goals and a roadmap of how we are going to achieve these over the next 12 months, with full alignment and buy-in from our senior team?
Annual Strategic Planning
Session purpose
Derive a one page strategic plan focussing on the most important SMART goals, tasks, metrics and celebrations for the organisation over the next 12 months with specific accountabilities for all people and levels within the organisation.
It can be beneficial for this session to be conducted by an external person as opposed to the CEO. This ensures that the CEO can dedicate all of their time to strategy on the day and not be distracted by running the sessions.
Audience
Board Members, CEO, Senior Leadership Team, High Performing employees (future leaders)
My role
- Liaise with key stakeholders and establish the organisational objectives based on the program/s we agree to
- Set pre-work for attendees prior to the session (approx. 1 hour of work per attendee prior)
- Receive a briefing and key documents from the organisation (approx. 2-3 hours)
- Facilitate the session to achieve the business growth outcomes we establish by ensuring that everyone has a voice, constructive discussions are had, everyone is held accountable to set actions, and be honest and upfront about how to get the best results during the day
- Align the leadership team with the direction of the business, the goals for the business and the decisions and priorities that need to occur for success.
- Answer questions from attendees over the next 4 weeks on areas to clarify anything covered in the strategic planning process
- Do a follow-up go2meeting/Skype call 4 weeks after the session to check on progress, keep everyone accountable to what was agreed to at the sessions, and answer any follow-up questions.
Key areas to cover during the session:
- One Page Strategic Plan: Top 3-5 SMART goals for the following 12 months & aligning this to the organisations vision, priorities and core values
- Critical metrics to measure and report on weekly/monthly/quarterly/annually
- Key initiatives to ensure success over the next 12 months and hit our goals
- Obtain resolutions for any bottlenecks that we are concerned that we would encounter over the next 12 months
- Key celebrations/rewards/signs of success for the organisation
Duration
A pre-work briefing telephone call or meeting between myself and the CEO/business owner usually takes 2-3 hours. During this time the key objectives of the day are discussed and attendee pre-work is set for everyone who is attending. This is normally completed 7-10 days prior to the strategy day.
The strategy day takes a full 8-10 hours.
I always suggest that the day is followed by drinks for all attendees.
Best practices for your annual strategic planning day
- Hold the day off-site
- Obtain buy-in of key influencers before the day
- Obtain alignment on the need for clarity around these points before the day
- Phones, emails, distractions off!
Cost
Please contact us for a tailored proposal on facilitating your annual strategic planning session.
Steve is an amazing mentor! He was incredibly generous when I was going through some major business challenges with the buyout of a business partner, subsequent growth and eventually the sale of the business. Steve helped me identify the top key areas to focus which have had dramatic effects on the bottom line. One change implemented after a session with Steve resulted in a 15% increase in gross profit. I cannot recommend Steve more highly and hope to use his services in future businesses.
Rebeka Morgan
- Director,
Living Fundraisers - https://livingfundraisers.com.au/
Steve isn’t just another strategy consultant. It’s like a discussion of everything he has ever read and learned, tried and tested through practice with an acknowledgement that your business has its own set of intricacies. We learn from our mistakes as much as our successes and Steve is humble enough to admit he has learnt from both. He talks from experience and that’s why I listen with trusting ears.
Andrew Hardwick
- Director
, Hard Edge - https://www.hardedge.com.au/
I have known Steve for a number of years in different capacities. When I needed strategic guidance Steve was the first person that came to mind. He is a clear thinker who was able to assist me elucidate my commercial goals and objectives. Steve manages to eliminate the “outside noise” and facilitated the creation of my plan and roadmap in a practical and effective way.
Mark Franks
- Aberdeen Paper - https://www.aberdeenpaper.com.au/
Thanks for a fantastic afternoon of learning at our recent retreat. Everyone present walked away with a better understanding of their businesses and a bag full of practical actions to implement within them.
Dean Cherny - Founder & CEO, Marketing Melodies - https://www.marketingmelodies.com.au
Steve recently ran a Strategy Day for our leadership team. I cannot think of a better person to have helped our leadership team establish goals, actions, accountabilities and most importantly achieved alignment. Importantly Steve ensured that we implemented our actions following the Strategy Day so it was not just another bottom draw planning document as so many other companies do.
With his enthusiasm and firsthand experience as a CEO of a high growth business to share, I would highly recommend Steve if you want to rapidly grow your business.
Corey White – Director – Haines Medical Australia - https://www.hainesmedical.com.au
After doing Steve's training session I walked away with my mind completely blown. It's amazing how after a few hours he brought so much clarity on what it takes to truly scale our company with a step by step roadmap. If you're looking for help with the growth of your business, Steve is your man.
Nathan Chan - Publisher, Foundr Magazine - https://foundrmag.com
The very first day Steve ran a strategy session for the company he helped us achieve more alignment amongst our management team than we have ever had before. He helped us implement systems for accountability and focus that enabled us to have our most profitable quarter ever and to improve sustainability within the company. Steve is able to ask the tough questions and get straight to dealing with core issues.
Richard Stafford
- Managing Director
, Blackbird IT - https://www.blackbirdit.com.au/
I have been lucky enough to be involved in both 1 on 1 and group training with Steve Mcleod and can't speak highly enough of his knowledge and passion for helping others. Working with Steve I have learnt specific strategies around growth, people, process and finance, he has given me a thorough understanding and a know how to implement the learnings with instant and measurable results. More importantly, Steve has always followed up and held me accountable ensuring I get the most out of each session. I have no hesitation in recommending Steve and would highly encourage anyone to get involved in his coaching or training.
Joe Woodham - Director,
Torii Recruitment - https://www.toriirecruitment.com.au/
I have been fortunate enough to attend some of Steve’s training sessions as well as one-on-one mentoring sessions. Steve is one of the most astute business people I have ever met. His depth of knowledge and ability to cut through to the core issue are outstanding. A recent training session of Steve's that I attended was absolutely world
Warrick Stebbean -
Director
, CHT Melbourne - https://www.chtmelbourne.com.au/
Since we completed the strategic planning process with Steve, there has been an immediate and noticeable improvement in communication and alignment in our senior team. We have seen action on growth opportunities we just never got around to previously. Steve has a knack of breaking down and reverse engineering success, regardless of the type of business.
Rob Aubin, CEO LA BIOSTHETIQUE Australia & NZ - https://labiosthetique.com.au
I was lucky enough to have steve as a mentor…and the wealth of knowledge he imparted to me during this time was once in a lifetime. Steve has a way of guiding each entrepreneur to truly be inspired to achieve more than they could imagine through implementing his simplified tools which led him to his own business success. Steve is so passionate about sharing his keys to success.
Hannah Vasicek -
Director
, Francesca Jewellery - https://www.francesca.com.au/
Steve is the greatest business coach I have encountered, and an absolute inspiration. I was fortunate enough to learn from him over 18 months. He's direct, courageous and an absolute master at his craft. My experience during the program, as well as 1:1 with him has been a complete game changer to scale my business.
Sally Caroline - Director, Sally Klopper
Design - https://sallycaroline.com/
I’ve seen Steve McLeod from Courage for Profit in action for over a year now. His business knowledge and delivery of strategy is first class. Steve also has an analytical business mind. From these seminars we approached Steve to work with us in our business Nieuvision. Steve is now conducting our annual strategy day and quarterly strategy days in addition we requested his expertise in assisting us on our advisory board.
If you have a strong desire to align you business, grow your business to the next level and make sure you are keeping the business on the right path, I would highly encourage using Courage for Profit.
Rick Nieuwenhoven, CEO Nieuvision Australia - https://www.nieuvision.com.au
We have known Steve for many years now and his passion, commitment and drive is second to none. He always goes the extra mile and genuinely cares about the success of our business. Recently we attended a workshop with Steve to discuss growing our business for the purposes of selling for the best price. We walked away feeling very motivated and inspired. The level of professionalism and constructive advice was first class. I would recommend Steve and Courage for Profit to anyone.
Terry Kershaw
- Director
, East Coast Fire and Safety - https://www.eastcoastfireandsafety.com.au/
Steve McLeod has been an excellent source of constant inspiration, positivity and encouragement. It was thanks to him and the many training sessions of his I’ve attended, that I found the courage to move out of my comfort zone and attempt to explore and conquer unknown territories. As challenging as my journey as an entrepreneur has been; Steve’s training enabled me to cope with constant stress by analyzing my goals; through an objective and prudent assessment of their merits and requisite resources. Today I am adept at keeping my emotions out of my business dealings and setting clearer and more achievable goals for myself and my company.
Diksha Khana -
Director, Amazeology - https://amazeology.com.au/
You feel the hunger and drive the second you meet Steve and its infectious. There is no B.S and he cuts deep into the very fabric of why I am in business. To be at the top of your game you have to go through some testing times, and Steve has come out the other side, providing a spring board of learning and experience to catapult businesses to excel.
Rotem Rotenberg -
Director,
Cobild - https://www.cobild.com.au/
