"To succeed, a company needs a robust strategy vigorously executed. Strategy is the cerebral side of success. The other side is hands-on implementation of strategy. Implementation puts a premium on a responsive organization and its culture." ............. Evan Dudlik, Strategic Renaissance Strategy is about planning and execution. Without action, a company's intentions simply wither and decay. It's like a newly planted tree that's never watered. Unrealized plans can create a culture of defeat. To achieve competitive success, you need both plan and execution, thought and action. Creating and implementing a solid strategic plan need not be difficult -- if a company sidesteps some basic implementation barriers with proactive steps: * Strategic Management: Treat strategic planning as an ongoing process, not an isolated annual event. Develop a structure to regularly track and reinforce goal activities -- in order to keep the plan "on target" throughout the year. * Balancing strategic objectives: Years ago, companies evaluated success based solely on the attainment of financial goals. Today's business leaders assess their organizations from diverse perspectives (financial, customer, business process and organizational growth), creating a more balanced approach for judging performance. * People support what they help create: Gain employee "buy-in" to the strategic process by encouraging participation, contribution and leadership. * Judiciously focus on the essentials: Trying to "fix everything" at one time can dilute the focus and possible achievement of the most important goals. Focus on a manageable number of key objectives to create more opportunities for success. * Visible Scoreboards: Establish a clear set of measures for each area of focus -- and make sure people know about them. Use scorecards as vehicles to communicate company direction and as tools for motivating change. * Intertwine strategic and daily activities: Strategic activities often play second fiddle to day-to-day fire-fighting work demands. Aligning daily and strategic activities creates ongoing overall momentum for goal achievement. * New competencies and skills don't magically appear: Do individuals have the know-how to successfully expedite strategic plans or initiatives? Help employees acquire the competencies and skills needed for performance success such as: team dynamics, conflict management and group-based decision making. * Simplify: Strategic planning doesn't require a fancy process. Have a practical program that's easy to understand and aligns well with the company vision, mission, values and culture. Coaches facilitate and reinforce the strategic planning process when: > A company has little experience in strategic planning. > Previous strategic planning was not successful. > No one in the company has sufficient facilitation skills to propel the process. > An insider facilitator may inhibit individual participation. > Objectivity is needed.