In the current business environment of rapid changes, heightened risk and uncertainty, developing effective strategies is critical. Short and long term strategic and business planning serves as the focal point for creative thinking about a company's vision and direction.

Today’s planning requires a comprehensive approach integrating real-time feedback and decision making. As an owner or CEO, incorporating your vision and values into the planning processes will link you to your team allowing for rapid adjustments as you work toward your shared business goals.

A well defined strategy will guide your company through emerging opportunities. It will ensure that your executives have a strong grasp of the strategic context in which to make critical decisions.

Strategic thinkers combine past and current data, uniquely defined needs, purposes and goals with unstructured and unmethodical thinking to guide them in effective decision making.

The Starting Point - A key starting point of strategic planning is the acceptance that this planning process should not be designed to make strategy. Real creative strategies are rarely made during formal discussions, they are more likely to be informal and often in real-time.