How to shift from a short term to a long term focus
In successful businesses, most of the best folks are operators, not strategists.
The operators align the firm; they own the processes; and they are the core of the firm's culture. They worry about growth and keeping costs down. They want clear direction and the resources to get the job done.
On the strategic planning team, they may feel uncomfortable, ill prepared, and poorly trained when asked to "think long term."
| Constant, consistent communications on the long-term plan from top to bottom. Emphasize the vision |
| Have both long term and short term goals tied to incentives | 
| Adjust variable compensation to long term |
| Bring in an external view, a customer's view | 
| Use an iterative process with periodic reassessment |
| Think what if this happens, what are the competitor responses |
| Avoid turn-over on the planning team, have cross-functional training |
| |
The bar length indicates the most likely method for success. |
|
