The One Page Strategic Plan

In the grand scheme of things, simpler is better. For example, in strategic planning increased complexity in a plan results in more opportunities for miscommunication and “pilot error” in implementing the plan.

The main reason for this is that we humans can only hold around seven pieces of information in our minds at any one time. Sure, there may be a great deal of complexity in the calculations that underpin your strategic plan, but at the end of the day humans will be in charge of implementing it.

Below is my version of the One Page Strategic Plan. Its function is to challenge a leader to be crystal clear about their plan going forward in the simplest way possible.

This assumes that there has been much brainstorming, environmental scanning, data analysis, etc. prior to creating the OPSP. However, if all this complexity can’t be distilled down into a simple plan that people can understand and implement, then you run the risk of losing sight of the few important things that will cause the plan to succeed or fail.

1. Mission (what you do for whom and where)

2. 3-Year Vision (e.g., revenue, profit, employees, geographic footprint, locations)

3. Top 3-5 Core Values (e.g., have fun, make money, do good)

4. What kind of car is our business? (e.g., value, service level, pricing)

5. Top 3 strategic priorities (e.g., role clarity, business development, recruiting)

6. Top 3-5 SMART Actions (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time bound, e.g., “Sally hires a new assistant by September 28”)

7. Plan for regular updates to the strategic plan (e.g., scheduled strategic meetings)

Don’t be a stranger. (770) 993-1129. tdockery@TheResolveFirm.com