No one can deny that 2020 was the year that lightning struck that is still reaping its energy in every part of our lives. The ripple effect of the COVID 19 pandemic will permeate our lives for years to come. One of its greatest effects has been to force us to consider and build new paths into the future. Add to this the effects of human behaviors on the climate and the relentless march of new technologies, and 2020 has been a wake-up call to massive changes to come.
Many of the organizations we work with have technology, climate change and pandemic developments somewhere in their strategic and risk plans, but until last year they had not really considered the real impact of these events. Others simply haven’t considered some or all of these gameplay changes. 2020 brought us the opportunity to observe, learn and lead in an unknown and changed landscape. This is not simply a new “COVID normal”. COVID is just a catalyst to force change. We know this, but fear of the unknown may be preventing some from even contemplating change and hoping to go back to being as close as possible to the way things were. as possible in 2021 and beyond.
Time to rethink and restart
However, if you are open to the new opportunities that a ‘rethink and reset’ offers, here are five reasons to rethink your Strategic Plan, to set yourself up for success in a new and reimagined world:
1 The situation has changed. GREAT TIME!
You may have diligently done your environmental analysis and used it to build your Plan, but a lot has changed. Take a look at the situation analysis that holds your plan together. Do you recognize it in the current context?
2 Visionaries always see what the rest do not want
DISRUPTION leads to innovation: This is the time for the creative visionaries among us to see their way to new ideas that will help us confidently move forward in the new world order.
3 Your mission is even more important than ever
It’s time to emerge from the sea of equality and look at your mission statement through a new lens. How have recent events impacted the excitement behind your Mission Statement? Translate this emotion to create powerful motivation to revise your strategic priorities.
4 The fuse has lit and there is no turning back: change is inevitable
Like a ship on the ocean, when the winds change, you must also adapt to get through the stormy waters intact and on course. Steer the ship into new territory or plunge into the turbulent rocks as you try to navigate your way back to shore. There is no way back.
5 Your resources, deadlines and objectives are no longer aligned with your goals
A good strategic plan describes what you want to achieve and how you are going to achieve these results. Changes in work patterns, online technology, environmental change – these are examples that impact how you design activities to get results.
and bonuses:
6 If you didn’t anticipate the impacts of a pandemic in your risk plan, what else did you miss?