What’s Your “Why”?
Strategic Planning By The People For The People
- Talk to us!
- 306.535.9697
- info@strategylab.ca
- Visit us at Path Cowork
- 200 – 1965 Broad St, Regina, SK
What’s your purpose?
Why did you start? Why do your people love what they do? Why would great people want to work with you? Why is your culture so positive? Why do you feel like you are completely out of control? How will you see your vision through without you around? Is what you do centred around you, or around something bigger?
Strategic planning shouldn’t be an exercise only for the vice presidents or executive staff.
If you still think you can create a plan for your staff and they will happily see it through you may bit a tad crazy. No smart, driven employee wants to be told what to do anymore. No great culture is created within a 10+ page strategic planning document. The direction should be set by a board or visionary person, the goal of the organization has to be set by the president or executive director, and the actually monthly, weekly, and daily work plan must be made by the staff who are going to see it through.
Why does your company exist?
Every company and organization knows what they do, if not, they won’t be in business much longer. Most organizations also know how they do what they do. Be that a Wal-mart (mass distribution) or Cirque Du Soleil (unique experience), for most organizations it is relatively simple to determine how they do what they do. But what is more difficult to understand (and many business owners don’t) is why a companies does what it does.
Apple
(technology)
Why: Question the status quo.
How: By leading with design inside and out, we create user friendly, highly intuitive devices.
What: Phones, music players, computers, tablets that are some of the best on the market. All having a similar clean design and simple interface.
Westjet
(airline)
Why: Make air travel easier.
How: By empowering employees to be decision makers they are responsible for the culture they create.
What: Employees that actually care about you as a customer as well as treat you like a friend, telling a joke on a flight, or giving you an extra chocolate wafer because you accidentally “misplaced” your first one.
Moo.com
(online stationery retailer)
Why: Be the supplier of choice.
How: By doing things over and above what was expected, not just once, but every time, it creates a culture of over delivering.
What: The stationary you order (business cards, post cards) is of the highest quality (American Psycho style) and always comes with fun packaging. The Postcards came in a pack that says on the outside in bold lettering “Slower Than Email” . Every time I’ve ordered anything it always comes at least 4-5 days early.
Great product + fun packaging and design = loyal customers
Nike
(apparel)
Why: To equip the very best athletes (and anyone striving to be) in the world.
How: By having the best athletes in the world use and endorse your products over and over.
What: 99% of all wannabe sports enthusiasts think they’ll be “just like Kobe” in the shoes, or putting just like Tiger with the clubs.
Regina Police
(public organization)
Why: To keep Regina safe, together.
How: By putting “public service first”.
What: respectable, professional, service.
UofR Alumni board
(non-profit)
Why: To build pride.
How: By engaging with alumni, providing valuable services and creating a community of like-minded people.
What: several events, scholarships, sponsorships, to award alumni, and support UofR events.
Regina Volleyball Club
(non-profit)
Why: To grow volleyball.
How: By creating an experience for all athletes in the club that makes them want to come back again and again.
What: teams, programs and camps that people talk about after, that people come back to year after year. Every positive experience creates a future customer.
The Onion
(online news publication)
Why: Make people laugh at news.
How: create stories that people want to share.
What: satirically, yet brilliantly written faux news articles that millions of people consume every day.
Scott Collegiate
(school)
Why: It’s where my homies learn
How: by creating a different, more engaging school experience
What: classes that get attended more, students that learn more, teachers that achieve more.
Strategy Lab
(marketing company)
Why: to make the impossible possible (at affordable pricing!)
How: by working smarter and caring harder.
What: websites, workshops, online advertising, social media, and marketing strategies that get talked about.
Creative Options Regina
(Not-for-profit)
Why: to create a culture of gentleness
How: by practicing the four pillars of gentle teaching
What: a different style of day-time care for people with disabilities.
Carmichael Outreach
(Not-for-profit)
Why: to end homelessness in Regina
How: by thinking about homelessness differently and being proactive in how you deal with it.
What: a housing first initiative that focuses on the root cause of homelessness.