Businesses succeed or fail for a variety of reasons. Hard work, persistence, the appeal of an innovative product, persuasive marketing, need, or consumer demand can all play a part. Some say luck has a role. Others say it's a matter of being in the right place at the right time. In still other cases, management takes the time to address all of the important aspects of ensuring the success of the business. Creating a vision and strategy, is followed by developing a well thought-out business plan, which is followed by the implementation of the plan.

It's natural to assume that good management planning is the most common reason for success. Certainly, only a few would consciously choose to let chance dictate their success or failure. While that may seem to be the case, the reality is that managers frequently get tied up in the "business of doing business" on a day-to-day basis and never really take the time to plan their future. Plans make the future happen.

Take the time to create a vision and develop a plan. Communicate that vision and plan to each person in the organization. A well thought-out strategy and plan does more than determine what actions will be taken in the future. By planning what this successful future will look like, you have the ability to see beyond the forest and concentrate on each tree; each goal that must be set and achieved to ensure this future. In this era of fierce competition, victory will go to those organizations who know how to harness the momentum that occurs when people are inspired to do their individual best in their quest for organizational excellence. The challenge lies not so much in attracting the best people, but rather in getting the best out of all of the people. Visualization, commitment and their affect on action cannot be understated.

People need to understand where the company is headed and how and why their efforts are important. With this understanding, they will be better able to focus their energies on helping the company get there.

If you were to build a new home, would you just start nailing up boards or would you go to an architect and have blueprints developed? Would the architect develop the blueprints based upon your oral description, or would he or she first submit a sketch to help you crystallize what you want? Only when there is genuine excitement and approval of the sketch will the blueprints be developed.

And so it is with Strategic Planning. Before you spend time on strategy, market segments, financial planning, etc., you need to focus on the vision for your company. Your vision will serve as both the inspiration and guiding light for everyone in the organization. A vision gives meaning to a company's existence and to all those who share this vision.

Well-managed, competitive companies have accepted the leadership challenge of creating a vision that is shared by everyone in the company. In so doing, they position themselves to respond to opportunities, rather than react to market conditions and competitive pressures.

Too many business people view weak market conditions or a poor economy as the reason for their lack of success. However, even in the worst economy leaders in every field emerge victorious. Why? Because they realize that success is not based on the conditions of the world, but on the decisions they make and the goals that they choose to set and achieve. Success doesn't just happen. It happens because you predetermine your success, create a plan, set goals and make it happen.

Planning the future of your business entails four stages:

1. Understanding the current condition both inside, as well as outside the company
2. Visualizing and identifying the future as you want it to be
3. Determining the goals you must achieve and planning their achievement, and
4. Implementing the plan.

Leaders who take the time to create and communicate a vision, a strategy and a plan find that they are able to create a level of motivation and commitment that fuels continuously higher levels of achievement. They are also able to attract highly skilled and innovative people, and have the ability to propel an otherwise average business into one of power and respect.

Strategic Planning can be defined as the process that determines the future of the organization and what organizational resources will be needed to achieve organizational goals. Strategic Planning addresses all aspects of your company, and its resources. It's a thought process. Based on the belief that the function of business is to attract and maintain customers. It is your customers who generate the revenues from which profits or financial viability flow.

The foundation of any successful planning process is the vision of the future and the ultimate purpose of the plan. The function of a leader in today's rapidly changing world is to create and communicate to each person within the organization a vision which creates excitement and commitment.

Larry Dybis is the Executive Director of People Dynamics.
ldybis@thedynamicsgroup.com