After my last article around setting a strategic five year vision, I wanted to share the unbelievable impact that the exercise has had over the last 2 months.

To all the CEO’s, Dealer Principals and Business Owners about to embark on releasing their strategic plan to the business, let me give you some insight into my high level observations. You’ve invested in the plan to this point, now take it to fruition.

My 10 golden rules for the journey:

1. Ensure the long term members of the team have embraced the plan.
2. Listen to everyone in the company talk about one thing, it’s uplifting.
3. Make your business simpler to understand, it is incredibly rewarding.
4. Commit time to one on one sessions – e.g.: 519 staff x 5 sessions each – over 2,500 meetings.
5. As the leader, clear your diary and go to as many sessions as you can.
6. A physical document is very important, and if you have offices around the world you must translate into local languages.
7. Ensure your whole executive team is on the same page and sharing the messaging, this is the only path to success.
8. Be fluid, be personal and be empathic in every session you go to, even if you are saying the same thing over and over again. Your passion for the plan needs to stand out.
9. Need to ensure that historic silos do not reappear and everyone talks about the entire company.
10. Have fun with it, create a movement, dance, play on words, create a slogan – it doesn’t have to be serious and let others see as the leader you’re human.

I look forward to speaking with you again in the not too distant future. Click here to read the previous edition of the ‘A Closer Look’ series.