The most important thing for your organisation is...to know where it is going.

If you don’t have a clear idea of where your organisation is going to be in five years, ten years, fifty years, then you are wasting your time and money.

Every decision you make, every activity you start (or stop), every person you recruit, should move you closer to your vision of the future.  And you can only be sure of this if you have sat down and described where it is that you are going, and exactly how you are going to get there.

A relevant, useful and living strategic plan (as opposed to the dust gatherers on your shelf) is the most powerful tool that your organisation can have.  It ensures that all the various parts of your organisation are bound by common objectives and values. It gives you a solid platform to base your investment decisions on.  It tells you who to hire, and when to hire them. It makes sure that your marketing activities are tightly focused and cost effective.  It keeps you several steps ahead of the competition.

What is your strategy?  Is it written down?  Does anyone else in your business know what it is?  How often do you refer to it?