Planning to Excel
Strategic Planning That Works
By: Robert L. Mason
Published: August 2009
Format: Paperback, 100 pages
ISBN 13: 978-1-934938-45-4
ISBN 10: 1-934938-45-9
Publisher: Langdon Street Press
"Planning is a leadership responsibility", writes founder of RLM Planning and Leadership Robert Mason, in his practical and succinct handbook on strategic planning Planning to Excel: Strategic Planning That Works. The author stresses the critical importance of establishing a plan for the success of the business, and details how to create a plan that is both effective and flexible.
Robert Mason recognizes the value of a plan to serve as a road map to achieving business success. As a result, the author focuses on developing a workable plan as a cornerstone to establishing a growing company. Robert Mason demonstrates the difference between a mission statement and a vision statement, and why both are essential tools in guiding the organization down the proper path toward its goals. Without an understanding, and a firm grasp on the company's core values, the business can flounder without direction. As a result, the author shows the leadership how to discover and identify those crucial values and to ingrain them into the company culture.
Robert L. Mason (photo left) begins the book with the premise that effective leadership is vital to development of a strong and workable strategic plan. The author guides the company leadership through the entire planning process from developing an initial plan outline to determining the company's most important values to overcoming roadblocks and resistance to the strategic plan and its development process. Bob Mason helps the core leaders to discover other leaders and change agents within and outside of the organization, and to draw on their expertise and insights. Since the author considers planning to be a primary leadership role, the leadership must accept responsibility for the plan's success.
For me, the power of the book is Robert Mason's emphasis on providing a usable, hands on book to guide a company's leadership through the entire strategic planning process. Packed with easy to understand and use worksheets, the book is designed for use as an integral part of the plan development. The chapters are filled with solid planning concepts, that are well explained, so the leadership can start creating a strategic plan from the opening page. The step by step procedure, coupled with handy and easy to apply tips, makes the book easy to read and helps to streamline the planning system. While the author doesn't give an iron clad guarantee that a plan will help a business thrive in an economic downturn, the plan will help keep the leadership from straying from its most important values and goals.
I highly recommend the useful and business changing book Planning to Excel: Strategic Planning That Works by Robert Mason, to any company leaders who are seeking an easy to understand and practical guide to establishing a strategic planning process in their own organizations. The author's systematic approach takes into consideration the differences in company cultures and core values, while recognizing that there will be conflict in the establishment of the action plan. Bob Mason doesn't recommend a one plan for all companies concept, but one the emphasizes the individual strengths of the organization.
Read the comprehensive, yet to the point book Planning to Excel: Strategic Planning That Works by Robert L. Mason, and take responsibility as a leader for your company's overall planning and goals. The easy to use worksheets will make the entire process easier and more successful for everyone in the company.
