Planning Requires a Learning System
I began 2020 with a great sense of optimism. However, within weeks of my New Year’s post, the world was in lockdown. Was I ever surprised! I did not anticipate the Covid-19 Pandemic. Honestly, we were all surprised. Sure, we knew it was a possibility. The concept had been discussed in the culture, complete with dire warnings mostly ignored.
I had just completed a COO search when the lockdown began. My placement’s start date was March 16. I was sure that my client would rescind their offer. But I was wrong. The new COO became an integral part of their organization, helping them navigate through the challenges created by the pandemic.
Great companies create a learning culture that guides their planning. Click To TweetMy first blog post of the year is meant to establish a theme for the New Year. It is somewhat different this year. It seems appropriate to put 2021 into greater context, given our experience in 2020. As we begin 2021, we are into the second flair-up of Covid-19, tracking the normal influenza cycle. The residual effects of 2020 will be with us for a while, certainly through 2021. Companies are still looking for a handle on the situation. They have learned much but need more time to adapt and thrive.
My ‘beginning of the year message’ of 2020 was a typical opener, The setup spoke to the importance of planning and goal setting. I wrote that companies are more likely to achieve their objectives, whereas individuals abandon their New Year’s Resolutions within a few short months. I observed that the difference might be due to a lack of systems. Goal attainment requires a system that incorporates learning. Creating virtuous habits is the key to success. That was my thinking at the beginning of 2020.
A chronological review of the topics for my 2020 posts is revealing. In the first quarter, I was writing about making a productive start to the new year. Pre-pandemic thinking. In the second quarter, I was writing about situation awareness. I wanted to understand the effects of the pandemic and assess the needs of our clients. By the third quarter, I was writing about developing strategies to reconnect with customers. The fourth quarter was the setup for 2021. I wrote about the need for a clear positioning statement, supported by a communications program.
My 2020 Blog Themes by Quarter
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- !st Quarter Planning and Strategy -Typical Start of New Year Message
- 2nd Quarter – Understanding/Responding to the needs of clients – Communications.
- 3rd Quarter – Reconnecting Strategy-Communications
- 4th Quarter – Positioning Strategy-Communications
A catalog of my 2020 articles is listed at the end of this post.
The lockdown made it clear that business models need to adapt to a new paradigm. Many trends already working their way through the economy accelerated. Remote working and internet shopping are obvious examples. Other changes were not expected, especially health protocols surrounding Covid-19 mitigation. There was a noticeable impact on the supply chain due to bottlenecks at the manufacturing/production node. The service sector was hard hit as ‘high touch’ retail concepts collided with social distancing, PPE, and sanitation protocols. Our clients struggled to adapt. My goal was to help them understand, adapt, and reposition themselves for success. This is still my focus. Find a defensible niche, organize around that strategy, and market your brand (communicate) accordingly.
My take-away from 2020 is that most companies are not investing in strategic threat assessments or developing contingency plans. This leads me to believe that their planning systems are not generating information to protect their flanks. Actionable information is the foundation for planning. A robust strategic analysis discipline will validate strengths, mitigate weaknesses, identify opportunities, and surface threats. This approach to planning creates a learning culture. An effective planning system is a learning system. Good companies employ a planning system. Great companies create a learning culture that guides their planning.
A Fresh Approach to Strategy!
Beginning a new year is still exhilarating. Maybe even more so this year. We face a fluid situation as the second phase of the Covid-19 Pandemic takes its toll. And a new Political Administration will soon be in place. We know that further change is coming, but its size and scope is unclear. The challenge is to gain clarity to ensure our continued survival. This requires more experience and solid analysis.
My 2020 articles in reverse chronological order.
Write an Impressive Cover Letter, Dec 28, 2020
Your Bio – Why it’s Important, Dec 19, 2020
Position Yourself for Success, Dec 12, 2020
Is Your Job Search Strategy Working, Nov 21, 2020
The Turning Point, Oct 24, 2020
A Crisis Averted, Sept 29, 2020
When Opportunity Presents (Public Speaking) Aug 15, 2020
Job Search in the “Latest” New Normal – Know Your Options, Aug 1, 2020
Job Search in the Latest “New Normal” – Recruiting and Selection Dynamics. July 25, 2020
Job Search in the Latest New Normal, July 18, 2020
A Compelling Story Is Your Launchpad, July 11, 2020
Job Search – What’s Your Story, May 31, 2020
Things Will Change – New Habits Will Be Created, March 21, 2020
Starbucks Meets WeWork at the Automobile Service Center, March 7, 2020
Identify Toxic Entanglements: Adapt or Disengage, January 20, 2020
Don’t Become Entangled in Their Pathology!, Jan 11, 2020
Do You Plan to Achieve Your New Year’s Resolutions, January 4, 2020
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Jim Weber – Managing Partner, ITB Partners
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