The annual plan construction set
[Update… it's now a handy web app!]
It's that time of year, when big companies race to put together their annual plan for the coming year. These documents, even though they're now digital, involve thousands of hours of analog meetings and discussion and compromise. To save you time, here's a simple list you can use. Just pick one or more phrases, string them together using words like, "using," and a bit of reconjugation and you're on your way.
- Act in collaboration
- Break existing paradigms
- Commit to quality
- Define new aspirational goals
- Deliver on opportunities
- Develop and align talent
- Develop the optimal portfolio of differentiated brands
- Differentiate the product base
- Enable technology
- Engage globally
- Enhance the digital experience
- Focus on our strengths
- Grow through innovation
- Identify new opportunities
- Innovate through growth
- Invest in people
- Juxtapose complementary opportunities
- Key partners
- Leverage existing assets
- Maximize returns
- Normalize customer expectations
- Operate more efficiently
- Position the organization for future growth
- Recharge the culture
- Structure the organization for effective performance
- Test new hypotheses
- Understand new innovations
The problem with plans created by committees is that they are built on vague. That's because vague is safe, and no one ever got in trouble for failing to meet a vague plan. But vague is singularly unhelpful when it's time to make a hard decision.