Many of my clients are NT Government agencies that are waiting to see what will happen in the next general election, scheduled for late August.
Regardless of who wins the election, there will be some degree of change post-August. A new team will want to shake things up and a re-confirmed team will want to do a refresh. There is nothing wrong or surprising about either.
However, it causes a feeling of unease and uncertainty for the public servants that have already been exposed to a lot of change over the past 18 months.
And some of these government agencies have corporate plans that expire this year. They are wondering whether they should bother starting a strategic planning exercise when it could be ‘a different world’ in six weeks.
I say, yes. And here are a few reasons why.
It’s an opportunity to check in.
Now, hopefully your organisation is regularly tracking progress against its strategic plan. Even so, a planning exercise goes beyond reporting. It involves looking further into the future. It forces you to question what you are doing and see how well it aligns with your organisation’s purpose. It helps you see where you may have strayed from the purpose, due to ‘shiny object syndrome’ or just because some opportunities were available at the time.
When you are anticipating change, it’s good to understand what your most important work is and what you could do away with to make room for the new stuff. Because, don’t forget, in a world of limited resources, there is only so much you can take on. And even if you could access more funds and talented employees, there are only so many initiatives you can effectively lead at any given time.
It’s an opportunity to take control.
It’s not easy knowing that some of the things you are currently running may be cancelled or significantly altered due to imposed reprioritisation. However, instead of feeling powerless, remember that your current programs are just some of the many ways you could achieve success.
So, try to focus on things that are likely to last, such as your organisation’s purpose. This not only helps you reduce uncertainty and approach change in a more positive way, but also helps you become more proactive.
You could use your strategic planning exercise to reconnect with your purpose by:
seeking clarity over what you are doing, why you are doing it and how it is helping
setting goals for the organisation that are aligned with its purpose
building flexibility into your plan, through embedded review points and an understanding of which strategies are most critical to fulfilling your purpose.
It’s an opportunity to work on culture.
In addition to setting goals and targets, a strategic planning exercise can also help improve organisational culture.
It’s an opportunity for the leadership team to come together and try to make sense of a confusing time. This not only builds a sense of comradery amongst the executives but also gives comfort to employees. It shows them that their leaders are looking out for them by being proactive.
Of course, some employees will see planning in uncertain times as a waste of resources. But the leadership team could use this as an opportunity to communicate that the plan has built-in flexibility and is purpose-driven.
But no matter the environment, there is value in getting organised, having clarity and a general direction. Even if some things eventually change, planning builds discipline, processes and behaviours that can be leveraged once it’s time to collectively adjust.
Thanks for taking the time to read the post.