Know what matters. Decide what comes next.
When day-to-day demands set the agenda, longer-term decisions can keep slipping. LLT’s strategic planning and business coaching services help business and non-profit leaders consider their direction, financial information and priorities.
From Chilliwack, we work with organizations in the Fraser Valley to connect planning with accountability. Whether you are considering a change or need a clearer direction for the year ahead, a useful starting point is the decision in front of you: what needs to change, what is getting in the way and what you need to understand.
Four decisions that give a plan its structure
LLT’s planning services include full-day planning sessions and training based on the Four Decisions. These four areas provide a practical way to look at your organization as a whole.
Strategy
Clarify where the organization is heading and why. Consider which opportunities deserve attention, which priorities matter most and how individual decisions fit the direction you want to take.
People
Look at the people and responsibilities behind the plan. Discuss whether roles are clear, where leadership attention is needed and who needs to be involved in carrying priorities forward.
Execution
Connect longer-term goals with shorter-term actions. Explore what needs to happen first, how progress could be reviewed and where accountability would help the plan remain part of everyday decisions.
Cash
Bring the financial picture into the conversation. Consider available cash, competing demands and the assumptions behind a decision so that your ambitions and resources can be discussed together.
Make the planning conversation useful
These questions can help you describe what you need from a planning session or coaching relationship.
Name the decision
What is the organization trying to decide? A specific question about direction, priorities or leadership gives the discussion a useful focus, even when the answer is not yet clear.
Put the constraints on the table
Consider the financial information, people, time and competing commitments that shape your options. Separate what you know from what needs further investigation before a decision can be made.
Discuss accountability
A plan needs attention after the planning session. Talk about the kind of coaching, progress review or support that would help your leadership team stay connected to its agreed priorities.
A useful starting point for your conversation
If you have them, these items can help explain your situation. Start with what is available and discuss what else would be useful.
- Your current business or strategic plan, even if it needs updating.
- Recent financial information and any budgets or forecasts you already use.
- The main decisions, obstacles or opportunities you want to discuss.
- An outline of leadership responsibilities and the people involved in the decision.
Use the initial conversation to agree on the right scope and format.
Questions about strategic planning and coaching
Is this service for businesses or non-profit organizations?
LLT’s planning and coaching services are for both businesses and non-profit organizations. The conversation should reflect your organization’s purpose, leadership structure and financial circumstances. A business owner and a non-profit board may face different responsibilities, even when both need clearer priorities and accountability.
Do we need a finished business plan before contacting LLT?
If you have a plan, bring it into the discussion. If you do not, start with your goals, the decisions you are facing and the information you have. The initial conversation can help establish whether planning support is relevant and what a suitable engagement would cover.
How are strategic planning and business coaching connected?
Strategic planning focuses on direction and priorities. Coaching adds a conversation about the decisions and accountability involved in following that direction. LLT describes both planning and coaching services; ask which combination would fit your organization, including the format and level of support you are seeking.
Can we discuss the financial side of our plan?
Yes. LLT’s service offering includes forecasts, projections, strategic planning and cash flow analysis. Bring the financial information you use to make decisions and identify any assumptions you want to examine. Discuss which financial work is needed as part of the planning engagement.
What decision would you like to make clearer?
Tell us about your organization, the questions on your mind and the direction you are considering. We can discuss whether planning or coaching is the right place to begin.
